What is the term for the classification level below kingdom and above class?

The classification level that lies below kingdom and above class is known as phylum. In the hierarchical system of biological classification, organisms are grouped based on shared characteristics, and phylum serves as a way to categorize large groups of related organisms.

For instance, within the kingdom Animalia, various forms of life such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and others are classified into different phyla based on distinct structural features and developmental biology. This level is essential for organizing the vast diversity of life and understanding evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Other choices like order, family, and class represent further subdivisions within the classification hierarchy, but none of them fit the specific position of being directly below kingdom and above class. Order is a classification that comes after class, while family comes even lower in the hierarchy, following order. The term class, on the other hand, is positioned below phylum, making phylum the correct level for this context.