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CogniGuide

Tree of Life Concept Map for Biology Students

See how the three domains and six kingdoms branch from common ancestry. Then create a map from your own biology notes, PDF or slides.

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CogniGuide at a glance

What you get
Interactive mind maps of the main ideas and how they connect. Free: overview maps (detailed maps on your first 3 creations). Plus: detailed maps with supporting concepts.
Exports
Your first PDF or PNG export is free; Plus exports anytime.
Price
Free plan: 5 creations a week, up to 3 a day. Plus: $9.99/month or $99.90/year (USD; local prices at checkout).
Sign-up
A free account is required before you create anything (Google or email). No credit card.
What you can upload
PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), plain text or Markdown, and images (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF), or type a topic. One file per creation on the free plan; several at once on Plus.

How it compares: vs Knowt · vs Quizlet · vs NotebookLM · vs Mapify

Build Your Own Tree of Life Map

Turn classroom material into a branching map of life's classification.

Built From Your Notes

Upload a PDF, Word file or slides on taxonomy and the AI builds the branches for you.

Clear Classification Levels

Each node shows a level, from domain down to species, so relationships stay visible.

Quiz and Flashcards

Turn the same map into a quiz or flashcards to test your recall of each group.

How to Make a Tree of Life Map

Three steps from your biology material to a study-ready map.

  1. 1

    Add your material

    Upload your textbook pages, lecture slides or notes, or simply type the topic.

  2. 2

    AI builds the map

    The AI groups organisms into domains, kingdoms and key lineages as expandable branches.

  3. 3

    Study, expand and quiz

    Expand any group, edit labels, export as PNG or PDF, or turn it into a quiz.

Tree of Life Concept Map Explained

A tree of life concept map shows how living things are classified and related through common ancestry. It starts with the three domains, Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, then divides Eukarya into kingdoms such as Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and Protista. Each branch narrows the grouping, from phylum and class down to order, family, genus and species.

  • Domains: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, the broadest groups of life
  • Kingdoms: Animals, plants, fungi, protists and the prokaryotic kingdoms
  • Shared ancestry: branching points show common ancestors in evolution
  • Classification ranks: phylum, class, order, family, genus and species

Use the map to review how groups connect and where each organism fits. To make a version based on your own course notes, create a personalized map with CogniGuide.

Explore related topics

three domains of life mind mapThis page gives a three domains of life mind map covering archaea, bacteria and eukarya, with key traits and examples.life cycle concept mapA life cycle concept map shows how an organism or product moves through its stages, from birth or creation to end.life processes concept mapThis life processes concept map shows the main processes living things use to stay alive, with their branches and key terms.butterfly life cycle mind mapLife cycle of a butterfly mind map showing the four stages of metamorphosis, with key features of each. Build your own version from your class notes or PDF.tree of life mind mapThis page shows a tree of life mind map with domains, kingdoms and key groups you can study from.butterfly life cycle mind mapThis butterfly life cycle mind map covers the four stages, key changes in each, and how to remember them.concept map tree makerExplore a concept map tree example and build your own tree from notes or a PDF.

Tree of Life Concept Map Questions

Common questions about classification and making your own map.

What are the three domains of life?

The three domains are Bacteria and Archaea, which are both prokaryotic, and Eukarya, whose cells have a membrane-bound nucleus. Eukarya includes animals, plants, fungi and protists.

How do kingdoms relate to domains?

Kingdoms sit below domains in the classification hierarchy. Eukarya is divided into kingdoms such as Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and Protista, and the prokaryotes are placed in their own kingdoms.

Which files can I use to make my map?

You can upload PDF, Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX), text or Markdown files, or an image of your notes. You can also just type a topic.

Can I turn my tree of life map into a quiz?

Yes. CogniGuide can turn any map into a quiz so you can test yourself on each group. The free plan allows 5 creations a week.