Taxonomy: The Tree of Life

Anura is the order of amphibians that includes frogs and toads. They are known for their short bodies, webbed digits, and exceptional jumping ability.

Caudata is the order of amphibians that contains salamanders and newts. They are characterized by their slender bodies, short limbs, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults.

Testudines is the order of reptiles known as turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. They are characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs.

Squamata is the largest order of reptiles, comprising lizards and snakes. Members are distinguished by their scales and movable quadrate bones in the skull.

The order Crocodilia includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials. They are large, predatory, semiaquatic reptiles, and are the closest living relatives of birds.

Rhynchocephalia is an order of reptiles that includes only one living species, the tuatara. Though resembling lizards, they are a distinct lineage that diverged around 250 million years ago. Their genome is one of the largest among vertebrates, significantly larger than that of humans, approximately twice as much.

Coleoptera, commonly known as beetles, is the largest order of insects. Beetles have a pair of hardened forewings called elytra and are found in almost every habitat.

Lepidoptera includes butterflies and moths, known for their colorful wings and complex life cycle including metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult.

Hemiptera, or true bugs, includes insects like aphids, cicadas, and stink bugs. They are characterized by their piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants, many of which are parasitic.

Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced mechanosensory organs known as halteres, and allow dipterans to perform advanced aerobatics.

Orthoptera is an order of insects that can fold their wings and produce sounds by rubbing their wings against each other on their legs.

Mantises are large predatory insects with triangular heads and bulging eyes, supported on flexible necks.

Odonata is an order of predatory flying insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies. They are characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body.

Blattodea is an order of insects that contains cockroaches and termites. They are known for their flattened bodies and are often found in close association with humans or in natural habitats.

Dermaptera is an order of insects commonly known as earwigs. They are characterized by a pair of pincer-like cerci on their abdomen and are mostly nocturnal.

Phasmatodea is an order of insects known as stick insects or walking sticks. They are renowned for their camouflage, which makes them resemble sticks or leaves.

Araneae includes spiders, known for their silk-spinning abilities and varied hunting strategies. They have eight legs and typically possess venomous fangs.

Scorpiones includes scorpions, characterized by their pincers and venomous stinger. They are often found in desert environments.

Acari includes mites and ticks, which are small arachnids that can be parasites or free-living. They have diverse habitats and can impact agriculture and health.

Decapoda is an order of crustaceans that includes many familiar species such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They have ten limbs and a hard exoskeleton.

Cirripedia includes barnacles, which are sessile crustaceans that attach themselves to surfaces like rocks and ship hulls.

Isopoda includes terrestrial and aquatic crustaceans like pillbugs and woodlice. They are characterized by their flattened bodies and are often found in damp environments.

Diplopoda includes millipedes, which have two pairs of legs per body segment and are primarily detritivores, feeding on decomposing plant matter.

Chilopoda includes centipedes, which have one pair of legs per body segment and are predatory, feeding on small insects and other invertebrates.

Nudibranchs are an order of soft-bodied marine gastropod mollusks that shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms.

Pulmonata is an informal group of gastropods that includes most land snails and slugs (primarily the order Stylommatophora), as well as some freshwater snails. They are distinguished by having a lung-like sac instead of gills.

Vetigastropoda is a subclass of marine gastropod mollusks that form a very ancient lineage, and are considered to be among the most primitive living gastropods. They are distributed in all oceans of the world from the deep sea to intertidal zones.

This order includes the true oysters, which are filter-feeding bivalves that are often found in brackish, marine habitats. Many species are cultured for their edible flesh.

Mytilida comprises several families of saltwater and freshwater mussels. They are characterized by their elongated, asymmetrical shells and strong byssal threads for attachment.

This order includes the scallops, which are known for their fan-shaped shells and their ability to swim by rapidly opening and closing their shells.

Members of the order Octopoda have eight arms and no shell. They are known for their intelligence and ability to change color and texture.

Squid are an informal group of marine cephalopods with ten arms and tentacles. They are strong swimmers and have an internal shell.

Cuttlefish are marine mollusks of the order Sepiida. They have a unique internal shell, the cuttlebone.

This subclass includes terrestrial and aquatic worms, most notably the earthworms. They play a crucial role in soil aeration and fertility.

This subclass comprises leeches, which are known for their segmented bodies and suckers at both ends. Many are blood-sucking parasites.

An order of flowering plants in the monocots, which includes the economically important grass family (Poaceae) and other grass-like families.

Liliales is an order of monocotyledonous flowering plants that includes many well-known ornamental plants like lilies and tulips. This order consists mostly of herbaceous plants, but also includes some climbers and shrubs. They are predominantly perennial plants with food storage organs like bulbs or rhizomes.

Asparagales is a diverse and large order of monocotyledonous flowering plants. It includes a wide variety of species, from herbaceous perennials to climbers, trees, and shrubs. Many species are geophytes, possessing bulbs, corms, or tubers. Economically important plants in this order include asparagus, onions, garlic, and ornamental flowers like orchids, daffodils, and irises.

Alismatales is an order of flowering plants that are primarily tropical or aquatic. This order, sometimes referred to as the arrowhead and pondweed order, includes about 4,500 species. Plants in this order can be found in both freshwater and marine environments.

A large order of diverse flowering plants which includes the rose family (Rosaceae). It contains herbs, shrubs, and trees, many of which are of great economic importance.

Apiales is an order of flowering plants that includes carrots, celery, coriander, parsley, and ginseng. Many members have aromatic foliage and produce umbels of flowers.

Asterales is an order of flowering plants that includes daisies, sunflowers, and lettuce. It is one of the largest and most diverse orders of dicots.

Boraginales is an order of flowering plants that includes borage and forget-me-nots. They are often characterized by hairy foliage and coiled clusters of flowers.

The Brassicales are an order of flowering plants that includes well-known members like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and mustard. A common characteristic of many plants in this order is the production of glucosinolate compounds, also known as mustard oils.

Caryophyllales is an order of flowering plants that includes carnations, cacti, and spinach. They are a diverse group adapted to a wide range of habitats.

Ericales is a large and diverse order of flowering plants that includes blueberries, cranberries, and azaleas. Many species are adapted to acidic soils.

Fabales is an order of flowering plants that includes the legume family (Fabaceae), milkworts (Polygalaceae), and others. This order is economically important as a source of food and contains a vast diversity of species.

Fagales is an order of flowering plants that includes beeches, oaks, and birches. They are mostly wind-pollinated trees and shrubs.

Gentianales is an order of flowering plants that comprises over 20,000 species across 5 families. Many of these plants are used in traditional medicine and are known to contain toxic compounds. Well-known members include coffee, gardenia, and oleander.

The Lamiales, also known as the mint order, are a large order of flowering plants with over 23,000 species found worldwide. They are often characterized by square stems and aromatic leaves and include well-known culinary herbs like mint, basil, and rosemary.

Malpighiales is a large and diverse order of flowering plants that includes willows, violets, and passionflowers. It is one of the largest orders of eudicots.

Malvales is an order of flowering plants that includes cotton, cacao, and hibiscus. Many members have mucilaginous sap.

The Myrtales are an order of flowering plants that includes well-known species such as myrtle, eucalyptus, and guava. This order is primarily found in tropical and warmer regions and is characterized by the presence of a hypanthium, a cup-like structure that supports the floral organs.

Ranunculales is an order of flowering plants that includes the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). This order contains a wide variety of plants, from herbs and vines to shrubs, which are found in diverse habitats across the globe.

Sapindales is an order of flowering plants that includes maples, cashews, and citrus fruits. Many species are economically important for their wood and fruit.

Saxifragales is an order of flowering plants that includes stonecrops, saxifrages, and witch hazels. It is a morphologically diverse group.

Solanales is an order of flowering plants that includes potatoes, tomatoes, and petunias. Many members produce alkaloids, some of which are toxic.

Vitales is an order of flowering plants that contains the grapevine family. They are primarily woody vines with tendrils for climbing.