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.