Which classification level comes directly below the kingdom?

The classification level that comes directly below the kingdom is phylum. In the biological classification system, also known as taxonomy, organisms are grouped into a hierarchy of categories. This hierarchy starts with the broadest category, the kingdom, and moves down to more specific categories.

After kingdom, the next level is phylum, which groups organisms that share a basic fundamental structure and organization. For instance, all animals belong to the Animalia kingdom, and within that, they are further categorized into different phyla, such as Chordata for vertebrates. This structured approach helps biologists understand the relationships and characteristics that define various organisms within the greater biological context.

Class, order, and genus are indeed levels of classification, but they follow phylum in the hierarchy. Class falls beneath phylum, order follows class, and genus comes below species, not directly under kingdom. Understanding this hierarchy is crucial for studying biological relationships and systems.