Order (biology)

An order is a rank used in the biological taxonomy. Each order is split into families. There are many orders in each class.

Examples of order

• Carnivora is the order of meat-eating animals. The cat family, dog family and bear family are in this order.
• Rodents are an order. Rats and mice are in one family. Squirrels belong in another family.
• Pine trees are an order. This order includes the cypress and yew families.
• Herbivore is the order of plant-eating animals.

Some orders, such as the pigeons, have only one family.