what is the biological classification included

Biological classification is a system of categorizing living organisms into groups based on their evolutionary relationships and shared characteristics. This system, which is also known as taxonomy, was developed by Carl Linnaeus and has been expanded and refined over centuries. Here are the major categories of biological classification, arranged from the largest to the smallest:

1. Domain (Domein): The highest level of classification, which divides life into broad groupings, such as Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

2. Kingdom (Koninkrijk): A major division within each domain, for example, Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Fungi, Protista, etc.

3. Phylum (Fylum): A group of related classes, such as Chordata (vertebrates and others with a notochord at some developmental stage) or Arthropoda (insects, spiders, crustaceans).

4. Class (Klasse): Further division of similar orders, like Mammalia (mammals) or Aves (birds).

5. Order (Orden): A grouping that includes families with common characteristics, such as Carnivora (cats, dogs, bears) or Primates (monkeys, apes, humans).

6. Family (Familie): A collection of related genera with common traits, such as Felidae (cats), Canidae (dogs), or Hominidae (great apes and humans).

7. Genus (Slag): A smaller group within a family that includes closely related species, like Homo (humans) or Panthera (big cats).

8. Species (Soort): The basic unit of classification, consisting of individuals that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring, such as Homo sapiens (humans) or Panthera leo (lions).

9. Subspecies (Subsoort): Sometimes used to further distinguish populations within a species that have distinct genetic or phenotypic characteristics, like the various subspecies of wolves across different regions.

10. Vernacular Names: Common names given to species based on local language and usage, which can vary between cultures and regions.

Taxonomy is an ongoing process as new species are discovered, and our understanding of genetic relationships between species evolves. Advances in DNA sequencing and genetic analysis have led to significant updates in the classification of many organisms.