Order (taxonomy)

An order is a taxonomic rank below class and above family. It groups related families within a class.

Class (biology): A taxonomic rank above order and below phylum or division. Orders are grouped within classes.
Biological classification: The organization of organisms into groups based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships. Orders are nested within the broader system of biological classification.
Primates: The mammalian order that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes, and humans. Primates is a well-known order within the class Mammalia.
Subclass: A taxonomic rank below class and above order. A subclass may contain orders, placing it one rank above them.
Family (biology): A taxonomic rank below order and above genus. Families are the next standard rank below an order.
Phylogenetics: The study of evolutionary relationships among organisms. Modern classifications often use evolutionary relationships to define orders.
Carnivora: The mammalian order that includes cats, dogs, bears, seals, and related animals. Carnivora illustrates an order containing diverse families.
Superorder: A rank above order and below subclass or class, used in some classifications. Superorders group orders but are not part of every classification.
Genus: A taxonomic rank below family and above species. Genera are grouped into families within an order.
Cladistics: A method of classifying organisms by shared derived traits and branching evolutionary history. Cladistic evidence can guide the boundaries of an order.