What is the correct order of the taxonomic levels?

The correct order of taxonomic levels begins with the broadest category and narrows down to the most specific. In the hierarchy of biological classification, the levels are arranged from the most inclusive to the most exclusive as follows: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

This system, known as the Linnaean taxonomy, was developed by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century and creates a consistent way of classifying and naming organisms. Each level represents a rank in the hierarchy and serves to organize living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.

By starting with Kingdom, which encompasses the largest groups of life forms (such as Animalia and Plantae), and progressively refining through Phylum and Class to the more specific levels of Order, Family, Genus, and finally Species, this classification system allows biologists to identify organisms in a systematic and organized way. Each subsequent level narrows the classification down further, making it easier to pinpoint the precise characteristics that define different organisms.