Video Transcript
Which of the following statements is not correct about the taxonomic hierarchy? (A) A species includes a number of different families. (B) A class includes a number of different orders. (C) A kingdom is a higher rank than a phylum. (D) A genus includes a number of different species. Or (E) a family is a lower taxonomic rank than a class.
Taxonomy is the study of classifying and naming different organisms. And a part of this classification includes sorting organisms into a taxonomic hierarchy. We commonly use seven main taxonomic categories that form a hierarchy from a very broad and large group to smaller and more specific groupings. These taxonomic groups are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The relationship between each of these groups is illustrated in this diagram.
The largest, and broadest, taxonomic group displayed here is the kingdom. And each kingdom consists of many phyla. Each phylum contains many classes. Within each class are multiple orders. Each order consists of many families. Within each family are multiple genera. Finally, one of the smallest and most specific taxonomic ranks is the species, many of which can usually be found within one genus.
A species consists of organisms that can reproduce with each other to create fertile offspring. Let’s now have a look at our answer options in order to identify which of the answers is incorrect regarding taxonomic hierarchy.
Option (A) states that a species includes a number of different families. As species is the most specific taxonomic grouping, this answer choice is not true. In fact, it is the opposite, as one family will usually contain many different species. As we are looking for the answer option that is incorrect, this suggests that option (A) might be the answer to this particular question. But let’s check by looking at the other answer choices.
Option (B) states that a class includes a number of different orders. As we can see from the diagram, this is true. Class is a higher taxonomic ranking than order, meaning that it is the broader grouping and that many orders will usually be found within one class. This means we can eliminate option (B) from the answer choices as the statement is correct.
Option (C) suggests that a kingdom is a higher rank than a phylum, which as we can see from our diagram is also correct.
Option (D) proposes that a genus includes a number of different species, which is also true.
Finally, option (E) says that a family is a lower taxonomic rank than a class. As this statement is also correct, this cannot be the right response to this question.
Now we can confirm that the only statement that is not correct about the taxonomic hierarchy is (A): a species includes a number of different families.
