Definition Biological Classification: "The systematic grouping of living things based on characteristics, hierarchical, or phylogenetic relationships"
LEVELS Domain: Most inclusive taxonomic category; larger than a kingdom - Archae, Eubacteria, Eukaryotes
Kingdom: second largest taxonomic group; there are six. - Animalia, Plantae, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Fungi Phylum: below a kingdom and above a class, it's the major classification second to kingdom. Forms groups from - (Animalia examples) Chordata, Arthropoda, Nematoda
Class: taxonomic category containing orders with common characteristics - (Chordata examples) agnatha, reptilia, mammalia, amphibia, aves
Order: taxonomic group containing one or more families - (Reptilia examples) Crocodilia, Squamata, Testudines, Sphenodontia
Family: a taxonomic group containing one or more genera - (Squamata examples) Acrochordidae, Agamidae, Amphisbaenia, Chamaeleonidae
Genus: a classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms - (Agamidae examples) Acanthocercus, Acanthosaura, Agama, Calotes, Draco
Species: lowest taxonomic level, and the most basic category. An organism in a species has common characteristics and are usually able to mate with one another to produce fertile offspring - Acanthocercus atricollis, Agama Sauria