Explore animal groups and the relationships between selected examples.
Explore a curated teaching tree of six example species. Kingdom → phylum → class → order → family → genus → species runs from broad groups to narrower ones. Extra ranks and evolutionary branches are omitted. Vertebrate and invertebrate are informal filters here, not ranks in this tree; invertebrates do not form a single evolutionary group.
Ranked classifications can differ between authorities and change with research. The displayed lineages follow the linked museum and taxonomic references, checked October 2026. This explorer illustrates relationships; it is not a complete animal catalogue or an identification key.
Natural History Museum species dictionary and GBIF taxonomic search provide fuller reference trees.
Instructions
- Choose Animal group or enter Search a common name or taxon to narrow the examples.
- Choose Explore a rank in the example tree and Taxon at this rank if you want to compare a particular group.
- Select Example animal, then Explore.
- Read the displayed lineage and use Download results or Print.
Understanding your results
Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species move from broad groups to a particular species. The explorer contains six examples, so it illustrates selected relationships rather than cataloguing all animals. Vertebrate and invertebrate are browsing filters here, not formal ranks.
What to do if your search produces no example
Try a broader common name or clear the search and rank filters. The animal may be outside the six examples. Use the linked taxonomic references to investigate further; this teaching tree cannot identify an unknown animal from appearance.
Using this tool in your browser
This tool handles your entries in your browser with JavaScript enabled and does not save them automatically. Use the download or print controls described in the instructions to keep a copy before closing or reloading the page. On a phone, your browser controls where downloads go and which print options are available.
Summary
Use the examples to learn how named groups fit within larger groups.