Family

Definition

Family is a taxonomic rank in the biological classification system that groups related genera. It ranks above genus and below order.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The family rank is used to group similar and closely related species.
2. Families are part of the hierarchical system of classification which includes domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
3. Each family contains one or more genera (plural of genus) which share certain structural and functional characteristics.
4. The scientific naming convention for families usually ends with the suffix '-idae' for animals and '-aceae' for plants.
5. Carl Linnaeus first introduced the concept of organizing living organisms into hierarchical categories including the family rank.

Review Questions

• What taxonomic rank is directly above genus?
• What suffix is commonly used in the scientific names of animal families?
• Who introduced the concept of hierarchical classification including the family rank?

Related terms

Genus:

A taxonomic rank used to group species that are structurally similar or common in ancestry.

Order:

A higher taxonomic rank than family that groups together related families.

Species:

The basic unit of biological classification, defined as a group of individuals capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.