This is a list of biological orders in the scientific classification of life-forms. Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ...

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Animalia (Animals)

Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Bilateria Acoelomorpha Orthonectida Rhombozoa Myxozoa Superphylum Deuterostomia    Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ...

Phylum Chordata

Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with...

Class Acanthodii - extinct

Acanthodii (sometimes called spiny sharks) is a class of extinct fishes, having features of both bony fish ( Osteichthyes) and cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes). ...

Class Actinistia (coelacanths)

Species Latimeria chalumnae Latimeria menadoensis Coelacanths (pronounced SEE-le-canth, meaning hollow spine in Greek) are lobe_finned fish with the pectoral and anal fins on fleshy stalks supported by bones, and the tail fin divided into three lobes, the middle one of which also has a stalk. ...

Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)

Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ...

Class Amphibia (amphibians)

• Urodela or Caudata (salamanders)
• Anura (frogs and toads)
• Gymnophiona or Apoda (caecilians)

For other uses, see Amphibian (disambiguation). ... Families Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 amphibian vertebrates with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails (order Caudata or Urodela). ... Suborders Archaeobatrachia Mesobatrachia Neobatrachia The Anura is the order of animals in the class Amphibia that includes frogs and toads. ... See also: Caecilian, bishop of Carthage, 312 C.E. Families Rhinatrematidae Ichthyophiidae Uraeotyphlidae Scolecomorphidae Caeciliidae The Caecilians are an order (Gymnophiona or Apoda) of amphibians which resemble worms or snakes. ...

Class Ascidiacea (ascideans and sessile tunicates)

• Enterogona
• Pleurogona
• Aspiraculata
• Phlebobranchia
• Aplousobranchia
• Stalidobranchia

Orders Aplousobranchia Enterogona Phlebobranchia Pleurogona Stolidobranchia Ascidiacea (commonly known as the ascidians) is an order in the Urochordata subphylum of sac-like marine filter feeders. ...

Class Aves (birds)

• Struthioniformes, Ostrich, emus, kiwis, and allies
• Tinamiformes, tinamous
• Sphenisciformes, penguins
• Gaviiformes, loons
• Podicipediformes, grebes
• Procellariiformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies
• Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies
• Ciconiiformes, storks and allies
• Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
• Anseriformes, waterfowl
• Accipitriformes, eagles, hawks and allies (taxonomists have traditionally placed these groups in the Falconiformes)
• Falconiformes, falcons
• Galliformes, fowl
• Turniciformes, button-quail
• Opisthocomiformes, Hoatzin (this enigmatic bird was traditionally treated as a family within either the Galliformes or Cuculiformes)
• Gruiformes, cranes and allies
• Charadriiformes, plovers and allies
• Pterocliformes, sandgrouse (this enigmatic group was traditionally treated as a family in any of three different orders: Charadriiformes, Ciconiiformes, and Columbiformes)
• Columbiformes, doves and pigeons
• Psittaciformes, parrots and allies
• Cuculiformes, cuckoos
• Strigiformes, owls
• Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
• Apodiformes, swifts
• Coliiformes, mousebirds
• Trogoniformes, trogons
• Coraciiformes, kingfishers
• Galbuliformes, jacamars and puffbirds (these groups were traditionally treated as families in the order Piciformes)
• Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
• Passeriformes, passerines

For other meanings of bird, see bird (disambiguation). ... Families Struthionidae Casuariidae Dinornithidae Apterygidae Rheidae A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanian origin, most of them now extinct. ... Genera The Tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird, members of a South American bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera. ... This article is about penguin birds. ... Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii For other meanings of diver, also see diving. ... Genera Podiceps Tachybaptus Podilymbus Aechmophorus Poliocephalus Rollandia Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter. ... Procellariiformes (from the Latin procella, a storm) is an order of birds formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English. ... Families Pelecanidae Sulidae Phalacrocoracidae Fregatidae Anhingidae Phaethontidae The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. ... Families Ardeidae Cochlearidae Balaenicipitidae Scopidae Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. ... For the American doo-wop group, best known for I Only Have Eyes for You (1959), see The Flamingos. ... Families  Anhimidae  Anseranatidae  Anatidae The order Anseriformes contains about 150 species of bird in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. ... In one of the most common of the several ways in which the raptors are classified, the order Accipitriformes includes most of the diurnal birds of prey: hawks, eagles, vultures, and many others: about 225 species in all. ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae Cathartidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... Families Megapodidae Numididae Odontophoridae Phasianidae Meleagrididae Tetraonidae Cracidae Mesitornithidae The Galliformes is an order of birds containing the turkeys, grouse, quails and pheasants. ... The buttonquails or hemipodes are a small family of birds which resemble, but are unrelated to, the true quails. ... Families  Otidae  Gruidae  Rallidae The diverse order Gruiformes contains about 12 bird families with, on first sight, little in common. ... Families Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Chionididae Burhinidae Haematopodidae Recurvirostridae Ibidorhynchidae Charadriidae Pluvianellidae Dromadidae Glareolidae Stercorariidae Rhynchopidae Laridae Sternidae Alcidae Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. ... Genera Pterocles Syrrhaptes The sandgrouse are a group of 16 near passerine bird species in the order Pteroclidiformes. ... Families Raphidae Columbidae The order Columbiformes includes two families of birds: the Raphidae, to which the extinct Dodo and Rodrigues Solitaires belonged, and the Columbidae, which includes the very widespread and successful doves and pigeons. ... Families Cacatuidae Psittacidae Loriidae The order Psittaciformes includes about 342 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae, the parrots. ... Families Musophagidae Cuculidae Opisthocomidae The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below: Order Cuculiformes Family Musophagidae: turacos and allies Family Cuculidae: cuckoos Family Opisthocomidae: Hoatzin However, the taxonomy of this group is now controversial. ... For uses of the word Owl as a three letter acronym, see OWL. Families Strigidae Tytonidae An owl is any of some 200+ species of solitary nocturnal birds of prey in the order Strigiformes. ... The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes the cosmopolitan nightjars, the frogmouths of Australasia and Southeast Asia, the South American potoos and Oilbird, and the Australasian owlet-nightjars. ... Families Apodidae Hemiprocnidae Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three families: the swifts, Apodidae, the tree swifts, Hemiprocnidae, and the hummingbirds, Trochilidae. ... Genera Colius Urocolius The mousebirds are a small group of near passerine birds which have no clear affinities to other groups, and are therefore given order status. ... Genera Apaloderma Euptilotis Harpactes Pharomachrus Priotelus Trogon Ref: ITIS 178094 2002-10-06 The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes. ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Brachypteraciidae Coraciidae Leptosomidae Meropidae Momotidae Todidae Bucerotidae Upupidae Phoeniculidae The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills. ... Families Picidae Capitonidae Ramphastidae Galbulidae Bucconidae Indicatoridae Six families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ...

Class Chondrichthyes (cartilagenous fish)

• Chimaeriformes: chimaeras
• Heterodontiformes: bullhead sharks
• Orectolobiformes: carpet sharks
• Carcharhiniformes: ground sharks
• Lamniformes: mackerel sharks
• Hexanchiformes: frilled and cow sharks
• Squaliformes: dogfish sharks
• Squatiniformes: angel sharks
• Pristiophoriformes: saw sharks
• Rajiformes: rays and skates

Orders see text The Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fishes are jawed fish with paired fins, paired nostrils, scales, two-chambered hearts, and skeletons made of cartilage. ... Families Callorhynchidae Rhinochimaeridae Chimaeridae Other meanings, based on a fantastic animal, are at Chimera Chimaera is the common name of the species in the families Callorhynchidae, Rhinochimaeridae and Chimaeridae which all are closely related to sharks; they are also called ghost sharks. ... Family Heterodontidae (bullhead sharks) The Heterodontiformes are a small order of very basal (primitive) modern sharks (Neoselachii) known colloquially as the bullhead sharks. ... Families Parascyllidae (collared carpet sharks) Brachaeluridae (blind sharks) Orectolobidae (wobbegongs) Hemiscylliidae (bamboo sharks) Ginglymostomatidae (nurse sharks) Stegostomatidae (zebra shark) Rhincodontidae (whale shark) The order Orectolobiformes, also collectively known as the carpet sharks or wobbegongs (in Australia) because most have carpet-like patterned markings, includes a number of familiar types of... Families Scyliorhinidae (cat sharks) Proscyllidae (finback cat sharks) Pseudotriakidae (false cat sharks) Leptochariidae (barbeled houndshark) Triakidae (hound sharks) Hemigaleidae (weasel sharks) Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks) The ground sharks, order Carcharhiniformes, are the largest order of sharks, with over 270 species, and includes a number of common types, such as the blue... Families Odontaspididae (sand tigers) Mitsukurinidae (goblin shark) Pseudocarchariidae (crocodile shark) Megachasmidae (megamouth shark) Alopiidae (thresher sharks) Cetorhinidae (basking shark) Lamnidae (mackerel sharks) Great Lamniformes is an order of sharks commonly known as the mackerel sharks. ... Families Chlamydoselachidae (frilled shark) Hexanchidae (cow sharks) Hexanchiformes is the order consisting of the most primitive types of sharks, and numbering just a handful of species. ... Families Squalidae (dogfish sharks) Centrophoridae (gulper sharks) Dalatiidae (sleeper sharks) Echinorhinidae (bramble sharks) Squaliformes is an order of sharks that includes the smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish and others, about 80 species in four families. ... Species (16 species, see text) The angel sharks are an unusual group of sharks, with their flattened bodies and broad pectoral fins that give them a strong resemblance to skates and rays. ... Species Pliotrema warreni Pristiophorus cirratus Pristiophorus japonicus Pristiophorus nudipinnis Pristiophorus schroederi The sawsharks or saw sharks are an order (Pristiophoriformes) of sharks bearing long blade-like snouts edged with teeth, which they use to slash and disable their prey. ... Orders Batoidea - common rays and skates Myliobatiformes - eagle rays, manta rays Pristiformes - sawfishes Torpediniformes - electric rays Rays are a group (superorder Rajomorphii or Batoidea) of cartilaginous fishes. ...

Class Dipnoi (lungfish)

For the musical band, see Lungfish (band). ...

Class Larvacea

Families Fritillariidae Kowalevskiidae Oikopleuridae The Appendicularia or Larvacea are a group of free-swimming pelagic urochordates found throughout the worlds oceans. ...

Class Mammalia (mammals)

• Monotremata: monotremes
• Didelphimorphia: opossums
• Paucituberculata: rat opossums
• Microbiotheria: Monito del Monte
• Dasyuromorphia: marsupial carnivores
• Peramelemorphia: marsupial omnivores
• Notoryctemorphia: marsupial moles
• Diprotodontia: marsupial herbivores; kangaroos, wallabies, possums and allies
• Afrosoricida: tenrecs and golden moles
• Macroscelidea: elephant shrews
• Tubulidentata: Aardvark
• Hyracoidea: hyraxes
• Proboscidea: elephants
• Sirenia: manatees and dugongs
• Xenarthra (formerly Edentata): sloths, armadillos and anteaters
• Dermoptera: colugos
• Scandentia: tree shrews
• Primates: monkeys, apes and allies
• Rodentia: rodents
• Lagomorpha: rabbits, hares and pikas
• Insectivora: shrews, moles, hedgehogs
• Chiroptera: bats
• Pholidota: pangolins
• Carnivora: carnivores; cats, dogs, bears, seals, sea lions and others
• Perissodactyla: odd-toed ungulates; horses, rhinos, tapirs
• Artiodactyla: even-toed ungulates: antelopes, cattle, giraffes, camels, pigs, hippos, sheep, goats
• Cetacea: whales, dolphins, and porpoises

Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... Families Kollikodontidae (extinct) Ornithorhynchidae - Platypus Tachyglossidae - Echidnas Steropodontidae (extinct) Monotremes are mammals that are best known for laying eggs, instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials and placental mammals (Eutheria). ... Genera Several; see text The order Didelphimorphia contains the common opossums of the western hemisphere. ... Genera  Caenolestes  Lestoros  Rhyncholestes The biological order Paucituberculata contains the five surviving species of shrew opossum: small, shrew-like marsupials which are confined to the Andes mountains of South America. ... Binomial name Dromiciops australis Thomas, 1894 The Monito del Monte (little mountain monkey, Dromiciops australis) is a semi-arboreal South American marsupial which is thought to be more closely related to the marsupials of Australasia than to those of the Americas. ... Families Thylacinidae Dasyuridae Myrmecobiidae Most carnivorous marsupials belong to the order Dasyuromorphia, including the quolls, dunnarts, Numbat, Tasmanian Devil, and the recently extinct Thylacine. ... Families: Peroryctidae Peramelidae The order Peramelemorphia includes the bandicoots and bilbies: it equates approximately to the mainstream of marsupial omnivores. ... Binomial names Notoryctes typhlops Notoryctes caurinus The marsupial moles are rare and poorly understood burrowing mammals of the deserts of western Australia. ... Suborders Vombatiformes Phalangerida Diprotodontia is a large taxon of about 120 marsupial mammals including the kangaroos, wallabies, possums, Koala, wombats, and many others. ... Families  Chrysochloridae  Tenrecidae The order Afrosoricida (also known as Tenrecomorpha) contains two families of small mammals formerly regarded as part of the order Insectivora. ... Genera  Rhynchocyon  Petrodromus  Macroscelides  Elephantulus The small insectivorous mammals endemic to Africa known as elephant shrews are neither elephants nor shrews and, more formally, are the members of the biological order Macroscelidea. ... This article is about the mammal. ... Genera  Procavia  Heterohyrax  Dendrohyrax A hyrax is any of about 11 species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. ... Families Elephantidae Mammutidae (extinct) Moeritheriidae (extinct) Gomphotheriidae (extinct) Proboscidea is an order containing only one family of living animals, Elephantidae, the elephants. ... Families Dugongidae Trichechidae For information about the Gothic metal band, see Sirenia (band) Sirenia are herbivorous mammals of coastal waters. ... Families Myrmecophagidae Megalonychidae Bradypodidae Dasypodidae The order Xenarthra is a group of placental mammals, extant today only in the Americas. ... Species  Cynocephalus varigatus  Cynocephalus volans Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in South-east Asia. ... Genera Tupaia Anathana Urogale Dendrogale Lyonogale Ptilocercus The tree shrews are small, squirrel-like mammals native to the tropical forests of South-east Asia. ... For the ecclesiastical use of this term, see primate (religion) Families 13, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all lemurs, monkeys, and apes, including humans. ... Families Many, see text The order Rodentia is the most numerous of all the branches on the mammal family tree. ... Families Leporidae Ochotonidae The Lagomorphs, order Lagomorpha, are an order of mammals of which there are two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). ... Families Erinaceidae Soricidae Talpidae Solenodontidae The biological order Insectivora in the past was used as a scrapbasket for a variety of small to very small, relatively unspecialized, insectivorous mammals. ... This article is about mammals. ... Species Manis gigantea Manis temmincki Manis tricuspis Manis tetradactyla Manis crassicaudata Manis pentadactyla Manis javanica Pangolins are mammals with large scales on their skins which can be found in parts of Africa and Asia. ... Families Canidae Felidae Herpestidae Hyaenidae Mephitidae Mustelidae Nandiniidae Odobenidae Pinnipedia Procyonidae Ursidae Viverridae The diverse order Carnivora includes over 260 placental mammals. ... Families Equidae Tapiridae Rhinocerotidae The odd-toed ungulates or Perissodactyla are large to very large browsing and grazing mammals with relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe. ... Families Suidae Hippopotamidae Tayassuidae Camelidae Tragulidae Moschidae Cervidae Giraffidae Antilocapridae Bovidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti (see text) The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ...

Class Petromyzontida (lampreys)

Class Placodermi - extinct

Orders Antiarchi † Arthrodira † Petalichthyda † Phyllolepida † Ptyctodontida † Rhenanida † The Placodermi are fish known from fossils dating to the Devonian period. ...

Class Reptilia (reptiles)

• Crocodilia (Crocodilians)
• Rhynchocephalia (Tuataras)
• Squamata (Lizards, Snakes)
• Testudines (Turtles and their kin)

Orders  Crocodylia - Crocodilians  Rhynchocephalia - Tuataras  Squamata   Suborder Sauria - Lizards   Suborder Serpentes - Snakes Testudines - Turtles Superorder Dinosauria  Saurischia  Ornithischia The reptiles are a group of vertebrate animals. ... Subfamilies Family Crocodylidae    Crocodylinae    Alligatorinae    Gavialinae Crocodylia is an order of large reptiles that scientists believe branched off from class Reptilia about 220 million years ago. ... Species Sphenodon punctatus Sphenodon guntheri The tuatara is the only surviving member of Rhynchocephalia (modernly known as either Sphenodontia or Sphenodontida), an order that has survived virtually unchanged for 200 million years. ... Suborders Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards Sauria- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Squamata (scaled reptiles) is the largest recent order of reptiles. ... Families See text Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudinata, most of whose body is shielded by a special bony shell developed from their ribs. ...

Class Thaliacea (pelagic tunicates)

• Doliolida
• Pyrosomida
• Salpida, salps

Orders Pyrosomida Salpida Doliolida The Thalicea comprise a class of marine animals within the subphylum Urochordata. ... Doliolida are small marine animals of the Tunicata phylum, related to salps and pyrosomas. ... Salps are a primitive, barrel-shaped, sea life that move by pumping water through their bodies by means of contraction. ...

Class Insecta (insects)