he classification system divides living things into categories.

There are eight different

categories in the classification system. They
are domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Each
category gets more and more specific. By the time you get to the species category, you
are only looking at one specific type of living thing!

There are a lot of different ways we could classify living things. For example, we could
classify them based on where they live. You might then imagine we would have a forest
group, and a desert group, and an ocean group. We could also classify living things
based on what color they are or what type of food they eat. What are some other ways
you can think of to classify living things?

The scientific classification system, or taxonomy, is a little different than those

suggestions. Scientists classify organisms based on their physical characteristics. This
can include whether the living thing has teeth, a backbone, or a brain. They also
consider how closely related species are, based on evolution. To see how this might be
helpful, let’s use an orca, or killer whale, as an example.

An orca and a bottlenose dolphin are alike. They both live underwater but have to come
to the surface to breathe. They also both have a backbone, a brain, fins, and teeth. Both
animals evolved from land mammals who moved back into the water. They are
classified in the same family, called Delphinidae.

You would then think that an orca and a blue whale are even more alike. They are both
called whales! But the most specific level of classification that the orca and blue whale
have in common is their order. An orca and a bottlenose dolphin are more alike and are
closer relatives than an orca and a blue whale! All three are classified in the order
Cetacea.

While this may seem confusing, there’s a good reason for these classifications. The
classification whale is not actually a scientific classification! It’s an informal group that
people use to describe certain types of sea animals. Orcas and blue whales are both
whales, but orcas have more characteristics in common with dolphins. For example,
while orcas and dolphins both have teeth, blue whales do not have teeth! Dolphins and
orcas are also more closely related.

Let’s think of one more comparison. Are an orca and a jellyfish more similar than an orca and a
lion are? If you said the orca and the lion are more similar, you’re right! The orca and the
jellyfish both live in the ocean. But that’s really the only thing they have in common! Orcas and
lions both have backbones and brains, but a jellyfish doesn’t have either of those.

A phylum (plural: phyla) is a label used to group living things together based on
common features. It is part of a larger classification system that starts
at kingdom and goes all the way down to species. Living things are divided into phyla
based on certain characteristics.

A good way to think of phyla is by thinking about how you organize the clothes in your
closet. You probably split them into different groups such as shirts, pants, shoes,
jackets. Just like your clothes, scientists group together living things into different
categories.

You can think of organizing animals into phyla like organizing the clothes in your closet

The Classification System

The classification system is a great way for scientists to organize living things into small
groups. There are eight different levels of classification, starting at domain and ending
with species. You can click on this link to learn more about the classification system.

Phylum is the third level of classification in the system. It comes after kingdom and
before class. That means that any two living things that are in the same phylum
are automatically in the same kingdom. However, two organisms can be in the same
phylum but be in different classes.

What Makes a Phylum?

How do scientists decide how to group living things into phyla? In order for different
organisms to be in the same phylum, they have to come from the same
ancestor. Basically, all of the living things in one phylum evolved from the same animal
species.

Scientists can figure out if different species came from the same ancestor by looking at
their bodies. Organisms with similarities in how they look probably came from the same
species. For example, earthworms and snakes bodies are very different. Although they
both move on the ground, snakes have bones and earthworms do not. For this reason,
they probably came from a different species and are not part of the same phylum.

For example, in the Animal Kingdom, there is a phylum group called “chordates.” All
of the animals in the chordate grouping have a spinal column, which is like a backbone.
This physical feature allows scientists to group all chordates together under one
phylum. Look at the picture above. Can you figure out what phylum humans are in?

The class classification has groups of organisms that are smaller than phyla but larger
than orders. They’re also some of the most familiar groups of organisms. Many people
can name an animal class, like Mammalia, but maybe not a phylum, like Cnidaria. So,
class classification is a greatly simplifying step in animal classification.

Animal Classes
There are over 100 different animal classes and some of them are very complex. Here,
we’ll go over just a few.

Vertebrate Classes
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone. There are six major classes of them.

Amphibia
Animals belonging to the class Amphibia are called amphibians. Some common examples of
amphibians are frogs, newts, and salamanders. Three specific features characterize
amphibians:

1. Amphibians are cold-blooded.

2. Amphibians start life as a larva. Tadpoles are a type of larva.
3. Amphibians breathe through their skin.

Amphibians also have a few other unique traits. Yet, these are the most important.
Reptilia
Reptiles are animals which belong to the class Reptilia. Like amphibians, reptiles are
cold-blooded, but their most noticeable feature is their scales. Lizards, snakes, and
crocodiles are examples of scaly reptiles.

Lizards bask in the sun because they are cold-blooded

Aves
Animals in the class Aves are called birds. Birds are special as they’re the only type of
vertebrate that can fly. But remember, not all birds fly. Instead, these features categorize birds:

1. Birds all have feathers.

2. They have beaks.
3. Birds have light bones, which allows them to fly more easily.
Penguins are a type of bird which cannot fly

Mammalia
Mammals are animals in the class Mammalia. They are the most familiar class of animal to us
because we see them all the time. In fact, human beings are mammals.
Still, it’s difficult to classify an animal as a mammal. A few of their special traits are complex.
That’s actually what makes some mammals, like us, so smart. If you want to learn more about
mammal’s specific features, check out our ‘Mammals’ page.

Classes of Fish
There are actually several classes for fish! Click the link to find out more about them.
Part of the reason they have so many categories is their age. Marine animals have been around
for a lot longer than land animals. So, they have had more time to evolve. This had lead to the
creation of many different classes of fish.

Invertebrate Classes
Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. There are actually many more classes of
invertebrates than vertebrates. Here are a few of them:

Insecta
Animals belonging to the class Insecta are called insects. Insects are usually very familiar
organisms to us. In fact, we know so much about them because they’re often annoying. Yet,
they’re also the largest and most diverse group of animals. They live everywhere, too. No matter
where you go, insects are a fact of life.
Butterflies are important insects because they pollinate flowers

Bivalvia – A Mollusk Class

Animals belonging to the class Bivalvia are called bivalves. Their name tells you a lot about their
biology. ‘Bi-‘ means they have two of something. Valves are devices which regulate the flow of
something. So, bivalves are organisms who have two halves that open and close to let things in
and out.

An example of a bivalve is the clam. Clams open and close their ‘valves’ to allow food to
come in and waste to go out.
Clams on a beach

Gastropoda
Gastropoda is the animal class which contains snails and slugs. We might think this would be a
pretty small group. Yet, it’s actually the second largest animal class in terms of number of
species! You can learn more about this surprisingly diverse class through the resources below.

Order Classification
Orders are groups of organisms which are smaller than classes but larger
than families. The groups before orders, like phyla and kingdoms, are kind of
confusing. They’re just so big that it’s hard to see what their members share! Luckily,
organisms in the same order begin to look pretty similar. Their similarity makes order
classification a useful step in animal classification.

Animal Orders
There are many different types of animal orders. So, we won’t go over all of them. But,
you can find out more about them at the bottom of this website if you’re interested.
There’s a ton to learn in this area! Here’s just a small, but exciting part of animal order
classification.

Carnivora
Animals belonging to the order Carnivora are called carnivores. Carnivores are animals
who have special traits to hunt other animals for food. A few examples
are bears and wolves. This might Carnivora seem like a scary group. Yet, some of the
animals we love most are part of Carnivora. Dogs and cats are carnivores.

Importantly, not all animals called carnivores belong to this order! Snakes are
carnivores, but they do not belong to the order Carnivora. This is confusing. Of course,
so is nature sometimes. Organisms are so diverse that they don’t always fit into clear
groups.

Primates
Animals belonging to the order Primates are called Primates. Primates are complex
organisms, and they show a huge variety. Animals from gorillas to lemurs are primates!
Although, one thing that unites them is their shape. Primates have flexible bodies and
limbs, and many of them can grab things. Some have even been known to use tools!
Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla
Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla are big names for animal orders. Yet, they just describe
hooved animals, This includes horses, camels, and even rhinos.

You don’t have to remember the long order names. The purpose of animal classification
is to group similar animals by their features. So, whenever you see an animal with
hooves, you know they belong to one of these orders.

Importantly, not all animals called carnivores belong to this order! Snakes are
carnivores, but they do not belong to the order Carnivora. This is confusing. Of course,
so is nature sometimes. Organisms are so diverse that they don’t always fit into clear
groups.

Primates
Animals belonging to the order Primates are called Primates. Primates are complex
organisms, and they show a huge variety. Animals from gorillas to lemurs are primates!
Although, one thing that unites them is their shape. Primates have flexible bodies and
limbs, and many of them can grab things. Some have even been known to use tools!

Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla

Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla are big names for animal orders. Yet, they just describe
hooved animals, This includes horses, camels, and even rhinos.

You don’t have to remember the long order names. The purpose of animal classification
is to group similar animals by their features. So, whenever you see an animal with
hooves, you know they belong to one of these orders.