Taxonomy mnemonic

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The hierarchy of scientific classification Scientific classification.svg
The hierarchy of scientific classification

Several mnemonics are used to memorize the hierarchical order of taxons used in biological taxonomy. Such mnemonics are usually constructed with a series of words that begin with the letters KPCOFGS, corresponding to the initials of the primary taxonomic ranks. Words beginning with D (corresponding to "domain") are sometimes added to the beginning of the sequence; words beginning with S (corresponding to "subspecies") are sometimes added at the end of the sequence.

One common mnemonic is "King Philip Came Over From Great Spain." [1] [2] A variant (recorded as early as 2002) that adds a letter for domain is "Dear King Phillip [ sic ] Came Over From Great Spain." [3]

MnemonicCommon prefixTaxon
DearD Domain
KingKing Kingdom
PhilipPh Phylum
CameC Class
OverO Order
FromF Family
GreatG Genus
SpainSp Species

Possibly earlier variations (both recorded in print from 1977) are "King Philip came over for grandma's suitcase" [4] and "King Philip came over for ginger snaps." [5] Many other variations on the final two words exist: "grape soda," "good spaghetti," [6] "golf sticks," [7] etc.

Other published mnemonics include:

In botany

Botanical taxonomy uses the rank of division in place of phylum. Some botany mnemonics follow one of the "King Philip" variants, with David in place of Philip. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Jesse Liberty (1997). Teach Yourself C++ in 24 Hours (1st ed.). Indianapolis: Sams Publishing. p. 236. ISBN   0-672-31067-8. You can remember this by remembering that King Philip Came Over From Great Spain. I'm not sure why this is easier, who King Philip was, why he came over, or where exactly Great Spain is; but that's what my ninth-grade teacher told me, and I've remembered it ever since.
  2. ↑ Thomas J. Fox (2011). Urban Farming. China: BowTie Press. p. 198. ISBN   978-1-933958-93-4. In elementary school, you probably memorized 'King Philip Came Over From Great Spain' or one of its dirtier equivalents to remember basic taxonomic rank: kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species.
  3. ↑ Kathleen Park Talaro; Arthur Talaro (2002). Jackie Butler (ed.). Student Study Guide: Foundations in Microbiology (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p. 4. ISBN   0-07-233401-0.
  4. ↑ Henry P. Cole (April 1977). Enhancing Motivation and Achievement: Principles and Techniques. University of Kentucky College of Education. p. 47.
  5. ↑ Alma E. Guinness (1977). Joy of Nature. Reader's Digest. p. 320. LCCN   76-29320.
  6. 1 2 Rod L. Evans (2007). Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge: The Book of Mnemonic Devices. Penguin. p. 11. ISBN   978-0-399-53351-8.
  7. 1 2 Clement W. Hamilton (Fall 1993). "The Naming and Classification of Plants". The Washington Park Arboretum Bulletin. 56 (3). Seattle, Washington. Just remember 'King David came over for golf sticks' to recall kingdom, division, class, order, family, genus, species.
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