The document summarizes the evolution of classification systems for living organisms from early two-kingdom systems to the current three-domain system. It describes the five kingdom classification system developed by Whittaker in 1969 that divides organisms into five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. This five kingdom system was an improvement over earlier classification schemes and remained influential for many years.

1. Classification
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2. The Five Kingdom Classification
• Early classifications suggested that
organisms could best be organised into 2
kingdoms – those having no cell walls,
whilst being motile and heterotrophic
(animals) and the rest (plants)
• Three-domain classification – prokaryotes
divided into 2 domains (bacteria and
archaea) with eukaryotes as a third
• Five kingdom classification – divides the
living world into 5 kingdoms
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3. Summary
Linnaeus Haeckel Chatton Copeland Whittaker Woese et al. Woese et al.
1735 1866 1937 1956 1969 1977 1990
2 3 2 4 5 6 kingdoms 3 domains
kingdoms kingdoms empires kingdoms kingdoms
(not treated) Protista Prokaryota Monera Monera Eubacteria Bacteria
Archaebacteria Archaea
Eukaryota Protista Protista Protista Eukarya
Vegetabilia Plantae Fungi Fungi
Plantae Plantae Plantae
Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia
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4. ALBIO9700/2012JK

5. ALBIO9700/2012JK

6. ALBIO9700/2006JK