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The term species has its origins in the ancient Latin language. In this language, the word species means kind. A more technical definition of species is a group of interbreeding organisms that do not ordinarily breed with members of other groups. Biologists estimate that about 10 to 40 million different species inhabit the Earth. Of these species, approximately 1.5 million have been classified.

The first individual to propose an orderly system for classifying the variety of organisms found on our planet was (1753). In his system of classification, the finest unit in the organization of life is the species. Linnaeus suggested that every organism should be classified with a unique binomial name. The first term in this classification system is the organism's generic name or . The second term is the organism's specific name or designation.

Current classification systems have developed from Linnaeus' original work. However, modern classification systems are much more complicated having many levels of hierarchical organization. These systems are also (structural and physiological connections between organisms),phylogenic (classification based on genetic connections between organisms), and are structurally based on Darwin's theory of .

Modern classifications of organisms are standardized in a hierarchical system that go from general to specific. Table 9b-1 below describes the detailed classification of the treered maple. Note that each level of organization is based on some biological characteristic that the organism possesses.

Table 9b-1: Hierarchical system of the biological classification of an organism.

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9(b) Biological Classification of Organisms

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The term species has its origins in the ancient Latin language. In this language, the word species means kind. A more technical definition of species is a group of interbreeding organisms that do not ordinarily breed with members of other groups. Biologists estimate that about 10 to 40 million different species inhabit the Earth.

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Image Credits:

background image, ©AMNH/Liz Vernon; Portrait of Melanie Stiassny, © Denis Finnin/AMNH; Timeline of life on earth, ©Liz Vernon/AMNH; Green seashore, Tom Archer/NASA; Microscopic blue-green algae, © Willem van Aken/CSIRO; Bacteria collage left to right: Lactobacillus, Dennis Kunkel Microscopy/Visuals Unlimited; Diphtheria, © Sanofi Pasteur; Staphylococcus, © NIAID; E. Coli, ARS/USDA; H. pylori, © Juergen Berger/Science Source; Streptococcus Viridans, © Dennis Kunkel Microscopy/Visuals Unlimited; Streptococcus A, © BSIP SA/Alamy; Extreme microbes, © Wolfgang Baumeister/Science Source; Archaea, © Steve Gschmeissner/Science Source; Intestinal archaea, Halobacterium, halophilic archaea, and methanotrophic archaea, © Dennis Kunkel Microscopy/Science Source; Sea anemone, © Bernard Spragg; Diatom, © M.I. Walker/Science Source; Giant kelp, Public Domain/NOAA Protists collage left to right: Diatom alga, © Steve Gschmeissner/Science Source; Dinoflagellate, © Raul Gonzalez/Science Source; Radiolarian, Picturepest/CC BY 2.0; Phytoplankton, © Steve Gschmeissner/Science Source; Foraminifera, © Nano Creative/Science Source; Mangrove, © Werner Bollmann/AGE Fotostock; Plant collage left to right: Fern, Nick Ford/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Water lily, Paul VanDerWerf/CC BY 2.0; Gum tree buds, © Nigel Cattlin/Visuals Unlimited; Succulent, D. Hutchman/CC BY 2.0; Cacti, © Andreas Rose/Imagebroker/AGE Fotostock; Chapparal Yucca, Pluckytree/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Red maple tree, Stanley Zimny/CC BY-NC 2.0; Water grass, Brad Thompson/CC BY 2.0; Sundew, © Mark Freeth/CC BY 2.0; Spiny lobster, Adam/CC BY 2.0; Ladybug, Richard Giddins/CC BY 2.0; Coral reef, ©John Anderson/Alamy; Tubeworms, NOAA; Tree frog, Thomas Shahan/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Elephant, © iStockphoto; Agama lizard, Atamari/CC BY-SA 3.0; Meadowlark, Kevin Cole/CC BY 2.0; White marlin, © Doug Perrine/Alamy; Baby, © Kidstock/AGE Fotostock.

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What Do You Know About Life on Earth? | AMNH

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Image Credits: background image, ©AMNH/Liz Vernon; Portrait of Melanie Stiassny, © Denis Finnin/AMNH; Timeline of life on earth, ©Liz Vernon/AMNH; Green seashore, Tom Archer/NASA; Microscopic blue-green algae, © Willem van Aken/CSIRO; Bacteria collage left to right: Lactobacillus, Dennis Kunkel Microscopy/Visuals Unlimited; Diphtheria, © Sanofi Pasteur; Staphylococcus, © NIAID; E.

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If the interactive timeline does not work on the iPad, use this timeline to complete Part 3.

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Have you ever wondered how all living things on Earth are organized? Scientists have categorized life into six kingdoms based on their characteristics and how they live. Each kingdom has its own speci