What is the taxonomic level that is above class and below kingdom?

The taxonomic level that is above class and below kingdom is phylum. In the hierarchical classification system of biology, the organization of life starts with broad categories and becomes more specific. The system can be summarized as follows: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Phylum serves as a major grouping of related classes. For example, the phylum Chordata includes all animals that have a notochord at some stage in their development, which encompasses several classes such as mammals, birds, and reptiles. Understanding this hierarchical structure helps in classifying organisms in a systematic way, ensuring that each level reflects increasing specificity in terms of shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.

The other levels mentioned, such as order, family, and genus, fall below class and are thus more specific categories that further subdivide the diversity of life into smaller groups.