What is the name of the biological classification system invented by Linnaeus?

The biological classification system associated with Carl Linnaeus is called Linnaean taxonomy. The Swedish botanist organized organisms into a ranked hierarchy, including kingdoms, classes, orders, genera, and species. This structure gave scientists a common framework for comparing and naming the living world.

Linnaeus presented the system in Systema Naturae, first published in 1735 and expanded through later editions. His approach also helped establish consistent binomial nomenclature, in which every species receives a two-part scientific name made from its genus and species. Homo sapiens is a familiar example.

Linnaean taxonomy predates evolutionary biology, so Linnaeus grouped organisms without explaining their common descent. Modern classification often incorporates phylogenetic evidence and may emphasize clades—groups descended from a common ancestor—rather than fixed ranks alone. Even so, Linnaean ranks and scientific names remain deeply embedded in biology. Taxonomy is the general field of classification; Linnaean taxonomy specifically refers to the ranked system linked to Linnaeus.