Hierarchy of Classification

It refers to the classification of living organisms into different groups.

Kingdom is ranked at the highest level of the hierarchy and species is at the lowest rank , which is the basic unit of classification.

• Organisms are arranged into groups/levels according to their similarities and dissimilarities.
• As we go up the hierarchy , the organisms have more similarities.

Species

Species is a group of individuals consisting of a number of organisms with similar characteristics which are able to breed among themselves to give rise to a fertile offspring .

For Example: Ursus arctos belong to species.

Genus:  

It is a group of species which have less characters in common as compared to species. Members of genus have identical reproductive organs.

For Example: Ursus belong to Genus.

Family: 

A family is the level of classification which consists of a number of Genus with similar characteristics.

For Example: Ursidae belong to family.

Order: 

An order is the level of classification which consists of a number of families with similar characteristics.

For Example: Carnivora belong to order.

Class:

  A class is the level of classification which represents organisms of related orders.

For Example: Mammalia belong to Class.

Phylum/Division:

It includes all organisms belonging to different classes having a few common characteristics.

For Example: All animals belong to the phylum Chordata.

Kingdom: 

A kingdom is the highest level of classification which includes all organisms who share a set of distinguishable common characters.

For Example:  Animal Kingdom