Illustrate the taxonomical hierarchy with suitable examples of a plant and an animal.

Based on the sources, classification is not a single step process, but involves a **hierarchy of steps**. Each step represents a rank or category within the **taxonomic hierarchy**. All categories together constitute this hierarchy. Each category, also called a unit of classification, is a rank and is commonly termed a **taxon** (plural: taxa).

The common taxonomic categories, from lowest to highest rank, are:
* **Species**
* **Genus**
* **Family**
* **Order**
* **Class**
* **Phylum** (for animals) / **Division** (for plants)
* **Kingdom**

As we go higher from species to kingdom, the number of common characteristics goes on decreasing. Lower the taxa, the more characteristics members within the taxon share.

Here is an illustration of the taxonomic hierarchy using examples of an animal (Man) and a plant (Mango), as provided in the sources:

**Example: Man (Animal)**
* **Species:** *sapiens* (Homo sapiens)
* **Genus:** Homo
* **Family:** Hominidae
* **Order:** Primata
* **Class:** Mammalia
* **Phylum:** Chordata
* **Kingdom:** Animalia

**Example: Mango (Plant)**
* **Species:** *indica* (Mangifera indica)
* **Genus:** Mangifera
* **Family:** Anacardiaceae
* **Order:** Sapindales
* **Class:** Dicotyledonae
* **Division:** Angiospermae
* **Kingdom:** Plantae

These examples demonstrate how organisms are classified into different taxa at various levels within the taxonomic hierarchy.