Linnaeus Classification System

Key Stage 4

Meaning

The Linnaeus Classification System is a way to group organisms with similar characteristics, first proposed by Carl Linnaeus.

About the Linnaeus Classification System

Carl Linnaeus developed a system of classification based on the similar characteristics of organisms. Organisms were put into groups and sub-groups:

• Kingdom - The largest group. Examples include animals and plants.
• Phylum - The second largest group. Examples include chordata (animals with a backbone) and Arthropoda (animals with jointed legs and segmented bodies).
• Class - Examples include mammals (humans, neanderthals, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, baboons, lemurs, dolphins, whales, cows, badgers) and birds (crows, ostriches).
• Order - Examples include primates (humans, neanderthals, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, baboons, lemurs) and cetacea (dolphins and whales).
• Family - Examples include hominidae (humans, neanderthals, chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas) and Cercopithecidae (baboons).
• Genus - Examples include Homo (sapiens and neanderthals) and Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos).
• Species - Sapien is the name for our species of human.