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Difficulty: EasyTaxonomy and Classification

A biology student is organizing a study chart of Linnaean classification categories. Arrange the following taxonomic ranks in order from the broadest (most inclusive) category to the most specific (least inclusive) category:

  1. 1Kingdom
  2. 2Phylum
  3. 3Class
  4. 4Order
  5. 5Family

Answer

The correct sequence from broadest to most specific is Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family.
The standard Linnaean biological classification system organizes living organisms into hierarchical categories of increasing specificity: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Arranging the specified ranks from broadest (most inclusive) to narrowest (most specific) yields Kingdom, followed by Phylum, Class, Order, and Family.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the broadest taxonomic category among the choices.
Kingdom is selected as the top-level rank.
Kingdom is the highest and most inclusive rank in this set, grouping multiple phyla.
2
Determine the next broadest categories descending through the Linnaean hierarchy.
Phylum is followed by Class, which is followed by Order.
Phylum subdivides kingdoms, Class subdivides phyla, and Order subdivides classes.
3
Identify the narrowest (most specific) category remaining.
Family is placed at the end of the sequence.
Family ranks below Order and contains closely related genera, making it the most specific rank in this group.

Key Concept

Linnaean Taxonomic Hierarchy
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Taxonomy and Classification

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