10 Questions
Who first introduced the class as a distinct rank of biological classification?
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
Which taxonomic rank is class in biological classification?
Between phylum and order
How did Carl Linnaeus divide all three of his kingdoms of Nature in the first edition of his Systema Naturae (1735)?
Into classes
How has the composition of each class historically been determined?
By the subjective judgment of taxonomists
What is a characteristic used to conceive a class historically?
'Level of complexity' measured in terms of differentiated organ systems
Who first introduced the class as a distinct rank of biological classification?
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
In which edition of his Systema Naturae did Carl Linnaeus divide all three of his kingdoms of Nature into classes?
First edition (1735)
Which taxonomic rank is immediately below class in biological classification?
Order
What is the distinctive name given to the top-level genus in biological classification?
'Genus summum'
Which botanist provided a general definition of a class as embracing taxa that combine a distinct grade of organization with a distinct type of construction?
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
Study Notes
Biological Classification
- Class was first introduced as a distinct rank of biological classification by Carl Linnaeus.
Taxonomic Rank
- Class is a taxonomic rank that ranks above order and below phylum or division.
Systema Naturae (1735)
- In the first edition of Systema Naturae (1735), Carl Linnaeus divided all three of his kingdoms of Nature into classes.
Determining Class Composition
- Historically, the composition of each class has been determined by the shared characteristics of its constituent members.
Characteristics of a Class
- A characteristic used to conceive a class historically is the combination of a distinct grade of organization with a distinct type of construction.
Class in Systema Naturae
- Carl Linnaeus divided all three of his kingdoms of Nature into classes in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae.
Ranks Below Class
- The taxonomic rank immediately below class in biological classification is order.
Top-Level Genus
- The top-level genus in biological classification is distinctively referred to as a Legion.
Botanist's Definition
- French botanist Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu provided a general definition of a class as embracing taxa that combine a distinct grade of organization with a distinct type of construction.
Test your knowledge of the class rank in biological classification with this quiz. Learn about the relationships between classes and other taxonomic ranks.
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