Video Transcript
Which of the following is the correct order of taxonomic hierarchy from largest to smallest? Phylum, class, kingdom, order, family, species, genus. Phylum, class, kingdom, order, family, genus, species. Kingdom, family, genus, phylum, class, order, species. Kingdom, class, order, family, phylum, genus, species. Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
This question is asking us to recall the taxonomic hierarchy of organisms. To answer this question, we’ll start by reviewing the definition of taxonomic hierarchy. The first word, taxonomic, refers to the word taxonomy, the study of naming, defining, and classifying groups of organisms. The word taxonomy comes from the Greek words taxis, which means arrangement, and nomos, which means method. The second word is hierarchy, which refers to a system of organization where each level is made of several smaller components. So taxonomic hierarchy is a classification system for organisms where each level categorizes them into increasingly smaller, more specific groups based on their evolutionary relationships.
There are seven main ranks in the taxonomic hierarchy: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. At each sublevel in the taxonomic hierarchy, organisms become more similar. Species is the smallest and most specific of all of the taxonomic ranks. Organisms that are the same species can mate with one another and produce fertile offspring. Related species are grouped together to form one genus. For example, several species of mice are grouped together to form the genus Muroid. Related genera are grouped together to form one family. This means related animals like mice and rats would be categorized in the same family called Myomorpha.
Families are grouped together to form one order. For instance, families of porcupines, beavers, and mice all form the Rodent order. Many orders form one class. For example, lions, pigs, and mice are all in the same class, class Mammalia. Several classes form one phylum. For example, all animals with a backbone would be categorized into the same phylum, phylum Chordata. Several phyla form one kingdom, which is the largest group in the taxonomic hierarchy. So the kingdom Animalia includes a wide range of organisms like reptiles, mammals, birds, and insects.
Recalling the taxonomic ranks in their correct order can be challenging. One way to overcome this challenge is to create a more memorable phrase that will provide clues to recalling the correct hierarchical order. For example, if we use the phrase “Keeping Precious Creatures Organized For Grumpy Scientist,” we can use the first letter of each word to help us recall the correct order of the hierarchy. The phrase “King Philip Came Over For Good Soup” is also quite commonly used. Can you think of your own phrase to help remember the correct order of taxonomic ranks? With this knowledge, we can answer our question. The correct order of taxonomic hierarchy from largest to smallest is kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
