Taxonomy is the science of classifying and identifying organisms based on their characteristics and evolutionary relationships. It involves the identification, naming, and classification of living organisms into groups or categories based on shared traits and characteristics.

The classification system used in taxonomy is hierarchical, with each group being progressively more specific. The highest level of classification is the domain, followed by kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Each level of classification is based on specific characteristics that distinguish one group from another.

Taxonomy is important because it allows scientists to organize and understand the diversity of life on Earth, and to make predictions about the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. It also provides a common language for communicating about different species and their characteristics, which is important for conservation efforts, medical research, and other fields that rely on accurate identification and classification of organisms.