Classification of Living
Things
Biology 11
Ms. Lowrie
#1 – Most Discoveries … Why?
 Areas that are difficult to access


Rainforest
Deep ocean

Only 3% explored
#2 – Classification vs. Taxonomy
 Classification

Act of grouping organism
 Taxonomy

Science of classifying organisms
#3(a) – Early Taxonomist
 Aristotle


384 – 322 BC
Greek philosopher
 Classified organisms based on observations

Sponge:
plant or animal?
#3(b) – Aristotle
 Arranged organisms based on:

Plant


Grass(small), bush(medium) or tree(big)
Animal:

Earth, water or air
 Problems:


Seagull?
Bacteria?
#3(c) – “Scala Naturae”

“Ladder of Nature”
 All creatures are arranged
in a hierarchy of complexity

Humans at top rung
Then
Now
#4 – Modern Taxonomy
a) Carolus Linnaeus


1707 – 1778
Swedish botanist
b) Organisms grouped
based on physical
characteristics

Hierarchical
#4(c) – Natural Classification
 Closer related organisms will have more
features in common
#5 – Levels of Taxa
a) First = Kingdom

General
b) Last = Species

Specific
 Ex: leopard
Taxa Analogy: Where do you live?
 Kingdom
 Continent
 Phylum
 Country
 Class
 Province
 Order
 County
 Family
 City
 Genus
 Street
 Species
 Number
General
Specific
How to Remember the 7 Taxa
 7 taxa:
kingdom, phylum, class, order, family,
genus, species
 King Philip came over for grape soda
#6 – Binomial Nomenclature
 Scientific names

Latin
 Made of two words:
Genus
2. species
 Underline if written (not typed)
1.
 Sugar maple  Acer saccharum
#7 – Latin Advantage
 Avoids confusion

When speaking different languages
#7 – Latin Advantage
 Avoids confusion

When speaking different languages
#7 – Latin Advantage
 Avoids confusion

With multiple common names
 What is a …?





Mountain lion
Cougar
Puma
Screaming wildcat
All the same!
Puma concolor
(Felis …)

#7 – Latin Advantage
 Avoids confusion

When common names are misleading
 Jellyfish is NOT a fish!
Any questions???
Task
 Use notes & pages 326 – 331
 Answer:

Practice Questions: # 1 to 5 (pg 331)


#1 select one example in school and one outside
Section Questions: # 1, 2, 5, 6 (pg 334)
Question #5 – Page 334
a) Which of the species are
most closely related?
Explain.
b) Is the river otter more
closely related to the
muskrat or weasel? Why?
c) Is the groundhog more
closely related to the
chipmunk or ferret? Why?
d) Which of the species is
(are) the closest relative(s)
of the squirrel? Explain.
Question #6 – Page 334
a) Felis concolor
b) Sorex arcticus
c) Canis rufus
d) Mephitis mephitis
e) Alopex lagopus
f)
Eutamias alpinus
mountain lion (vii)
arctic shrew (i)
red wolf (iv)
skunk (iii)
arctic fox (vi)
alpine chipmunk (v)
g) Sciurus arizonensis Arizona gray squirrel (viii)
h) Sylvilagus aquaticus swamp rabbit (ii)