Biology XI : 1. Living World (2 Taxonomic Categories & Compilation)

Taxonomic Categories and Compilation of Taxonomic Hierarchy Classification Not a single step process Involves hierarchy or steps Each step represents a rank or a category. All categories together constitute taxonomic hierarchy. Ranks are commonly termed as taxon (pl − taxa). Taxonomic Categories Different taxonomic categories arranged in descending order Aid to memory - You can learn this hierarchy using the following mnemonic: Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach Compilation of Taxonomic Hierarchy Species Individual organisms with fundamental similaritiesFor example: Mangifera indica Solanum tuberosum Homo sapiens (Mango) (Potato) (Human beings)   indica, tuberosum, sapiens − represent specific epithetMangifera, Solanum, Homo Represent genus May contain many species Genus Aggregates closely related species Has more characters in common as compared to speciesExample: Family Contains groups of related genera Less number of similarities compared to genus and species Characterized on the basis of vegetative and reproductive featuresFor example: Family Solanaceae contains Solanum Petunia Datura Family Felidae contains Panthera (Lion, tiger, leopard) Felis (Cats) Order Considered a higher taxonomic category Identified on the basis of aggregates of characters Assemblage of families with few similar characters Similar character are less as compared to different genera in a familyFor example: Families − Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae − based on floral characters included in order Polymonials Order − carnivora includes family Felidae (Cats) Canidae (Dogs) Class Includes related ordersFor example:Class mammalia includes Order carnivora and Order primata. Phylum or Division Based on common features among different classes In case of plants − Division, in case of animals − PhylumFor example − Division-Angiospermae (based on presence of flowers) Phylum - Chordata (Based on presence of notochord, hollow neural system) Major two kingdoms are