With millions of species on Earth, how do scientists keep track of them all? Explore the system used to classify living things.
Living things are organised into a hierarchy of groups, from the broadest (Kingdom) down to the most specific (Species): Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
Which level of classification is broader: Class or Genus?
Class — the hierarchy goes from broad (Kingdom) to specific (Species), and Class comes well before Genus in that order
Classifying organisms by shared characteristics helps scientists study, compare, and communicate about the enormous diversity of life on Earth in an organised way.
Why is it useful for scientists worldwide to use the same classification system for a species?
It allows scientists in different countries to be sure they're referring to exactly the same organism, avoiding confusion caused by different common names in different languages
1. List the classification hierarchy from broadest to most specific.
2. Which is more specific: Family or Order?
3. Why do scientists classify living things into groups?
4. Which level of classification is the most specific?
5. Why might a common name for an animal cause confusion across different countries?