Identifying & Classifying
Game Animals
Next Generation Science / Common Core Standards Addressed!
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HS‐LS2‐1. Use mathematical and/or computational representations to
support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of
ecosystems at different scales. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on
quantitative analysis and comparison of the relationships among
interdependent factors including boundaries, resources, climate and
competition. Examples of mathematical comparisons could include
graphs, charts, histograms, and population changes gathered from
simulations or historical data sets.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment
does not include deriving mathematical equations to make comparisons.
Agriculture, Food, and Natural
Resource Standards Addressed

NRS.01.02. Classify different types of
natural resources in order to enable
protection, conservation, enhancement
and management in a particular
geographical region.
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NRS.01.02.03.a. Research and examine
the characteristics used to identify wildlife
and insects.
New Animal
This animal is huge, it has wings
and a trunk, and has six legs.
 This animal also eats only plants
and can live in the water as well
as on land.
 Give it a name.
 Who wants to share their name?
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Bell Work / Objectives
What is scientific classification?
 How do you distinguish between
vertebrate and invertebrate
animals?
 Describe groups of vertebrate
animals.
 Describe groups of invertebrate
animals.
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Terms
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Amphibians
Arachnids
Birds
Bivalves
Class
Common name
Crustacean
Exoskeleton
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Family
Fish
Gastropods
Genus
Insects
Invertebrate
Kingdom
Mammals
Terms
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Mollusks
Morphology
Order
Phylum
Reptiles
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Scientific
classification
Scientific name
Species
Vertebrate
Worms
New Animal
 Now, lets say you are all
scientists and you all have
discovered the same thing, how
are you going to know it is the
same animal?
 How can the scientists share the
information if they all call it by a
different name?
What is scientific classification?
 Scientific classification
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System used worldwide that uses
seven stages or levels to show
relationships between organisms.
Seven levels of classification
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Kingdom – broadest level, it has
5 divisions
animalia
 plantae,
 fungi
 Protista
 mineral
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Levels of Classification
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Phylum – the next level, there
are 14 phyla in the animal
kingdom.
Chordata phylum (deer, fish,
snakes, etc.)
 Arthropoda phylum (ticks, insects,
crawfish, etc.)
 Mollusca phylum (snails, oysters,
clams, etc.)
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Levels of Classification
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Class – the third level.
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Within the Chordata Phylum.
Mammalia
 Reptilia
 Aves
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Levels of Classification
 Orders – based on feeding
characteristics.
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Wolves, coyotes and foxes are in the
Carnivore order of the Mammalian
class.
Levels of Classification
 Family – groups of organisms
that are further alike.
Classification is often based on
anatomical features.
 For example – wolves and foxes
both have long noses and bushy
tails.
 They belong to the Canidae
family.
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Levels of Classification
 Genus – composed of very
similar groups of organisms.
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These groups do not naturally
breed with each other.
Levels of Classification
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Species – contains very similar
organisms.
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Organisms within the same species breed with each
other.
This group can be further broken into subspecies or
breeds.
Scientific Classification System
Levels of Classification (Cont.)
 Common Name – How most
people know animals.
 Many people call animals and
various organisms by their
common names.
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Example: Gray Wolf
Levels of Classification (Cont.)
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Scientific Name – Combination of
the genus and species.
To ensure that scientists are talking
about the exact same animal, they
use scientific names.
Example: Canis lupus (Canis is the genus, and lupus
is the species)
What are the differences between
vertebrate and invertebrate animals?
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A common way of classifying animals is
based on internal and external body
structures.
Morphology – study of internal and
external body structures of organisms.
Animals can be classified into
vertebrates and invertebrates.
Vertebrates & Invertebrates
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Vertebrate – animal with a
backbone.
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Other characteristics include:
Two pairs of appendages (legs
and/or arms).
 A three-segmented body (head,
neck, & trunk).
 Brain at one end of the spinal cord.
 Some vertebrates have a long tail
while others may be very short in
length.
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Vertebrates & Invertebrates
 Invertebrates – animals that
do not have a backbone.
Often these animals have an
exoskeleton.
 This is an external hard body
covering which protects their
internal organs and also their
body.
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What are the types of vertebrate
animals?
Mammals
 Fishes
 Birds
 Reptiles
 Amphibians
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Mammals
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Animals that are covered with fur or
hair.
Regulate their internal body
temperature.
Their heart has four chambers.
Females produce milk for their young.
Mammals can further be classified
based on their digestive system.
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Mono-gastric animals – have a single
compartment stomach.
Ruminant animals – have a fourcompartment stomach.
Fish
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Fish have an exterior covering of
scales or skin.
They have paired fins, and get
oxygen from water through their
gills.
They adjust their body temperature
to the surrounding water.
Some fish lay infertile eggs, which
are later fertilized by the male.
Some others give birth to live
young.
Identify these New Mexico Fish!
Birds
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They are covered with
feathers.
They have two sets of
appendages.
One set is used for flying
(wings).
The other set is for walking or
swimming (legs).
Birds lay fertile eggs.
Reptiles
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They have dry skin
covered with scales.
With the exception of
snakes, reptiles have
two sets of legs and five
clawed toes on each
leg.
Reptiles lay thick walled
fertile eggs.
Amphibians
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Animals that live in the water
and on land.
Their skin secretes mucus for
protection.
They also have two sets of
appendages
Reproduction occurs in the
water or very moist soil.
The young go through a
metamorphosis as they mature.
What are the types of invertebrate
animals?
Insects
 Crustaceans
 Mollusks
 Worms
 Arachnids
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Insects
Exoskeleton.
 Six legs.
 Most can fly.
 Lay fertile eggs.
 Young go through metamorphosis as
they mature.
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Crustaceans
 Very strong exoskeleton.
 Exoskeleton is shed as
they grow.
 Four pairs of
appendages.
 Two pairs of antennae on
their heads.
Mollusks
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Small, soft bodied animals.
No internal skeleton.
Divided into either bivalves or
gastropods.
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Bivalves - have a two part shell, like a clam.
Gastropods – single part shells, like a snail.
Usually found in salt water, but can
also be found in fresh water and on
land.
Worms
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Soft bodies, no legs, no antennae.
Further broken down into groups of
segmented worms, flatworms, and
roundworms.
Segmented worms – ex. earthworms
and leeches.
 Flatworms – ex. flukes and
tapeworms.
 Roundworms – ex. nematodes and
pinworms.
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Arachnids
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Four pairs of legs for
walking.
Two pairs of legs near their
heads.
Examples include spiders,
ticks, mites, and scorpions.
Some varieties carry
disease and have
poisonous stings.
Review / Summary
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What is scientific classification?
What are the differences between
vertebrate and invertebrate
animals?
What are the types of vertebrate
animals?
What are the types of invertebrate
animals?
The End!