Classification of Organisms

Pre AP Biology

Spring ‘13

Taxonomy• Taxonomy is the science of naming and

classifying living organisms.• Carl Linnaeus – 1750s begin to name

organisms using 2 Latin words. This is called binomial nomenclature.

• We still use that system today and the two names are called the scientific name.

• Many organisms also have a common name, but some such as e.coli are only known by their scientific names.

Why we use scientific names

• Scientific names are very specific. – There is more than one common name for some

organisms (roach, cockroach, water bug)– Some common names refer to more than one

species (fly, bass, deer)

• Scientific names are the same in every language

Scientific Names• The rules:

– Must be in Latin (or “Latinized”)

– Must be underlined if handwritten and in italics if word-processed (like the title of a book)

– First name must be capitalized and second name must be lower-case

Examples

• Common name : dog• Scienitific name: Canis familiaris

(or Canis familiaris)• First name is the genus (pl. genera), or group to

which the animal belongs.• Second name is more specific and is the species.

Species

• Similar in appearance

• Breed in natural environment

• Can produce healthy fertile offspring

Examples

• Common name : wolf

• Scienitific name: Canis lupus

• Wolves belong to the genus Canis (same as domesticated dogs)

• Wolves belong to a different species (lupus) than dogs (familiaris)

Examples• Common name : tiger

– Scientific name: Panthera tigris – Genus: Panthera Species: tigris

• Common name: lion– Scientific name: Panthera leo– Genus: Panthera Species: leo

• Common name: cat– Scientific name: Felis domestica– Genus: Felis Species: domestica

Some organisms we already call by its scientific name

• Scientific Name:

Tyrannasaurus rex

OR

Tyrannasaurus rex

Others we use a common name: Bluebonnet

• Scientific Name:

Lupinus texensis

OR

Lupinus texensis

Others we use a common name: sparrow

• Scientific Name:

Passer domesticus

OR

Passer domesticus

Hierarchy of classification

• Organisms are grouped together much like mail is delivered…from most inclusive to most specific: – Most inclusive: Country

State

City

Zip

Street

address

individual –most specific

Domains

• Most inclusive division is called a Domain– There are only 3 of these: eukary,

bacteria and archea– All organisms fall into one of these three

catagories. Two of them are prokaryotic and one is eukaryotic. We’re eukarya

Kingdom and Phyla

• Domains are divided into Kingdoms – There are 4 kingdoms within Eukary: Protists,

Fungi, Plants and Animals; we’re animals

• Kingdoms are divided into Phyla (sing: Phylum)– We belong to phylum Chordata (had a nerve

cord)

Class and Order• Phyla are divided into Classes

– We’re in the class mammalia (has hair, carries offspring in womb, feeds offspring milk)

• Classes are divided into Orders– Were in the order primates

Family Genus and Species

• Orders are divided into Families– We’re in the family Hominidae (includes great apes

chimpanzee, gorilla and orangatang)

• Families are divided into Genera (sing. Genus)– We’re in the genus Homo (all others in the genus are

extinct but include Homo erectus (walked upright) and Homo habilitus (made tools)

• Genera are divided into Species– We’re in the species sapien

Example: HoneybeeDomain: Eukary

Kingdom: AnimalPhylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta Order: Hymenopera

Family: ApidaeGenus: Apis Species:

melllifera

You need to know the levels in order:

• Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

• Use a sentence to help you remember the order: – Ex: Does King Philip Come Over For Green

Spinach?

The Domains and KingdomsDomain Kingdom Number

of cellsType of cell

nutrition Movement example

Bacteria Eu-

baceria

Archea Archea-bacteria

Eukary Protist

Fungi

Plant

Animal

The Domains and KingdomsDomain Kingdom Number of

cells

Type of cell

Nutrition Movement

example

Bacteria Eu-

baceria

Archea Archea-bacteria

Eukary Protist

Fungi

Plant

Animal

The Domains and KingdomsDomain Kingdom

Number of cells

Type of cellnutrition Movemen

texample

Bacteria Eu-

baceria

Archea Archea-bacteria

Eukary Protist

Fungi

Plant

Animal

The Domains and KingdomsDomain Kingdom

Number of cells Type of cell

nutritionMovement example

Bacteria Eu-

baceria

Archea Archea-bacteria

Eukary Protist

Fungi

Plant

Animal

The Domains and KingdomsDomain Kingdom

Number of cells Type of cell nutrition

Movementexample

Bacteria Eu-

baceria

Archea Archea-bacteria

Eukary Protist

Fungi

Plant

Animal

The Domains and KingdomsDomain Kingdom

Number of cells Type of cell nutrition Movement

exampleBacteria Eu-

baceria

Archea Archea-bacteria

Eukary Protist

Fungi

Plant

Animal