Five kingdom classification of organisms
It is the most accepted system of modern classification mainly because of the phylogenetic placing of
different groups of living organisms.
The present trend in biology is to follow the five kingdom classification proposed by R.H.Whittaker in the year 1969. Whittaker classified the living organisms into five kingdoms namely.
- Kingdom: Monera (prokaryotic organisms)
- Kingdom: Protista(primitive eukaryotic organisms)
- Kingdom: Fungi (exclusively fungi)
- Kingdom: Plantae (advanced eukaryotic plants)
- Kingdom: Animalia (all multicellular animals)
According to this classification, Monera represent the earliest group of organisms. The Monera are thought to have given rise to Protista from which the three other kingdoms of organisms namely, the fungi, plants and animals evolved along separate lines. Fungi were the first to appear from Protista. Later, about a billion years ago some protists must have evolved into primitive multicellular animals. Still later, probably about 350 million years ago, some protists must have evolved into higher forms of plants.
The five – kingdom classification has certain merits and demerits. However, it is largely the most accepted system of modern classification mainly because of the phylogenetic placing of different groups of living organisms.