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3. Biodiversity eLearn.Punjab
Taxonomic Hierarchy
The groups into which organisms are classified are known as taxonomic categories or taxa (singular
“taxonâ€). The taxa form a ladder, called taxonomic hierarchy. All organisms are divided into five
kingdoms. So kingdom is the largest taxon. On the basis of similarities, each kingdom is further
divided into smaller taxa in the following way:
• Phylum (Division: for plants and fungi): A phylum is a group of related classes.
• Class: A class is a group of related orders.
• Order: An order is a group of related families.
• Family: A family is a group of related genera.
• Genus: A genus is a group of related species.
• Species: A species consists of similar organisms.
Members of lower taxon resemble one another more than do the members of a higher taxon.
Table 3.1 illustrates the classifications of humans (Homo sapiens) and pea (Pisum sativum).
Taxa Table 3.1: Simple classification of two organisms Pea
Human
Kingdom Animalia Plantae
Chordata Magnoliophyta
Phylum Mammalia Magnoliopsida
Class Primates
Order Hominidae Fabales
Fabaceae
Family Homo
H. sapiens Pisum
Genus P. sativum
Species
Species - The Basic Unit of Classification
Species is the basic unit of classification. “A species is a group of organisms which can interbreed
freely among them and produce fertile offspring, but are reproductively isolated from all other such
groups in nature.†Each species possesses its own distinct structural, ecological and behavioural
characteristics.
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