Phylum
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3
Biological Hierarchy
Phylum fits into a hierarchy; remember its place between kingdom and class for proper usage. The phylum Arthropoda falls under the kingdom Animalia and includes various classes such as Insecta.
Pro Tip 2/3
Diversity Within
Note that a phylum can include a vast diversity of organisms - it's a broad classification. The phylum Mollusca includes animals as different as snails, octopuses, and clams.
Pro Tip 3/3
Context Specific
Use 'phylum' in academic or scientific contexts; it's not commonly used in everyday language. During biology class, we learned about the characteristics that define each phylum.