Put in order from broadest to narrowest: Amphibia, Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrates
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Order from Broadest to Narrowest:
- Animalia
- Chordata
- Vertebrates
- Amphibia
Explanation
Biological classification, or taxonomy, organizes living organisms into hierarchical categories based on shared characteristics. From the broadest to the most specific, these ranks typically include: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. The four terms in question—Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrates, and Amphibia—fit within this hierarchy.
- Animalia is the broadest category among the four. It is a Kingdom, encompassing all animals. Members of this kingdom are multicellular, heterotrophic organisms that typically have specialized tissues and are capable of movement at some stage in their life cycle. This includes insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many others.
- Chordata is a Phylum within Animalia. All chordates share certain features at some point in their development, including a notochord (a flexible rod that supports the body), a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and pharyngeal slits. This group includes all vertebrates as well as some invertebrates like tunicates and lancelets.
- Vertebrates (more formally, Vertebrata) is a Subphylum within Chordata. Vertebrates are characterized by having a backbone or spinal column. This group includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. All vertebrates are chordates, but not all chordates are vertebrates.
- Amphibia is a Class within the subphylum Vertebrata. It includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Amphibians are ectothermic (cold-blooded) and typically have a life cycle that includes both aquatic and terrestrial stages. They are one of the earliest groups of vertebrates to adapt to life on land.
In summary, each level becomes increasingly specific. Animalia includes all animals, Chordata narrows it to animals with a notochord, Vertebrates to those with backbones, and Amphibia to a specific class of vertebrates.
