Order (biology)

An order is a rank used in the biological taxonomy. Each order is split into families. There are many orders in each class. A group of closely related families forms an order. The similar characters are less in number as compared to different genera included in family.

The hierarchy of scientific classification

Examples of order

• Carnivora is an order of meat-eating mammals. The cat family, dog family and bear family are in this order.
• Rodents are an order. Rats and mice are in one family. Squirrels belong in another family.
• Primates are another order of mammals. Apart from humans, most live in forests.
• Pine trees are a genus in the order Pinales. The order also includes all other living conifers, such as the cypress and yew families.