In biology, a domain or empire is the top-level grouping of organisms in scientific classification. Originally three kingdoms were distinguished: the fauna for animals, and the flora (Vegetabilia) for plants. Early authors also treated minerals in a third kingdom Mineralia. This corresponds to the old saying animal, vegetable or mineral?.

Today there are several competing domain classifications of life.

• Three-domain system of Carl Woese, introduced in 1990, and featuring Archaea, Eubacteria, and Eukaryota.
• Two-empire system featuring Prokaryota (or Monera) and Eukaryota.

See also

• Kingdom (biology)

da:Domæne (biologi) de:Domäne (Biologie) es:Dominio (biología) fr:Classification phylogénétique nl:Domein (biologie) pl:Domena (biologia) pt:Super reino (biologia) sv:Domän (biologi) zh:域 (生物)