Question

Compare the number and variety of organisms
placed in a kingdom taxon to the number and variety
of organisms found in a species taxon.

Answer 1

The number and variety of organisms increase when we move from a species to a kingdom.

• A species is defined as a group of individual organisms with fundamental similarities. They usually include closely related and morphologically similar organisms.
• A group of related species makes a Genus, which in turn is included in a Family of similar genera.
• The higher categories of taxonomy are based on a more wider scope of similarities. Families with some similarities make an Order. Related orders make a class.
• A Phylum has different organisms with only one or two common features. For example, classes Mammalia, Pices and Amphibia all come under phylum Chordata due to presence of a notochord.
• The final step is the Kingdom which is the classification of different Phyla.

Hence, there is a considerable increase in both number and characteristics from a species to a kingdom.