Term | Definition |
Biodiversity | The variety of organisms considered at all levels, from populations to ecosystems. |
Taxonomy | The science of describing, naming, and classifying organisms. |
Taxon | Any particular group within a taxonomic system. |
Kingdom | In a traditional taxonomic system, the highest taxonomic category, which contains a group of similar phyla. |
Domain | In a modern taxonomic system, the broadest category; the category that contains kingdoms. |
Phylum | In a traditional taxonomic system for organisms other than plants, the category contained within a kingdom and containing classes. |
Division | In a traditional taxonomic system for plants, the category contained within a kingdom and containing classes. |
Class | In a traditional taxonomic system, the category contained within a phylum or division and containing orders. |
Order | In a traditional taxonomic system, the category contained within a class and containing families. |
Family | In a traditional taxonomic system, the category contained within an order and containing genera. |
Genus | In a traditional taxonomic system, the category contained within a family and containing species. |
Species | A group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring; also the level of classification below genus and above subspecies. |
Binomial Nomenclature | A system for giving each organism a two-word scientific name that consists of the genus name followed by the species name. |
Subspecies | A taxonomic classification below species that groups organisms that live in different geographical areas, differ morphologically from other populations of the species, but can interbreed with other populations of the species. |