Final answer:
The eight levels of taxonomy in order from largest to smallest are Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species, which is a system that was created by Carl Linnaeus and has since been expanded to include three domains.
Step-by-step explanation:
The order of the eight levels of taxonomy from least specific (largest) to most specific (smallest) are: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
To place these taxa in order from the most specific to the most inclusive, you would reverse this list: Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom, Domain. Each taxonomic level groups organisms that share characteristics and genetic similarities, with 'Species' being the most specific and 'Domain' the most inclusive. Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, created this system which has since evolved to include a three-domain system consisting of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. It is important to note that taxa may shift as new scientific information becomes available and our understanding of evolutionary relationships improves.