Biological Classification System Assignment
NAME:
PERIOD:
Objective
Answer the following questions 1-10 on your own paper, using full sentences where
appropriate. Use your text book chapter 17 pg 518>. Questions 11 and 12 fill in the tables
on this paper.
1. Vocabulary: Write definitions for the following words using Chapter 17 and the
glossary: taxonomy, taxon (taxa) binomial nomenclature, phylogeny, cladistics,
cladogram, derived characters.
2. Give one reason why organisms are classified into a hierarchical classification
system by scientists
3. Give an example of a group of things you classify in your life, how do you decide to
group them. (what’s the criteria?)
4. Who was Linnaeus?
5. Write down the common name then the scientific name for any species. I identify
which part of the name is the genus and which is the species. Which of these is the
broadest taxon?
6. Write down the seven levels (taxon) in the classification system in the correct order
from broadest to most specific. Look at Fig 17.3 on pg 520, why do organisms keep
getting eliminated as you look down the taxon levels?
7. Provide the full scientific classification for either the West Indian Manatee or the
American Alligator (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species)
8. State how scientists classify organisms- How do they decide one organism belongs in
the same group as another organism, or that another organism belongs in a different
group. (hint pg 524>)
9. Complete the quick lab pg 525 Construct a Cladogram.
10. Over time how we classify organisms has changed. How has the classification system
changed over time? (hint pg 521, 524, 533)
11. Domains: Complete the Chart using pg 534 and pg 535
Domain Name
Characteristics
Kingdoms included
12. Complete the 6 Kingdom chart: Gather the required information to describe the main
characteristics of each of the six kingdoms. (hint old biology text book pg 459)
Classification of the Six Kingdoms
Domain
Archaea
Bacteria
Eukarya
Eukarya
Eukarya
Eukarya
Kingdom
Archaebacteria
Bacteria
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
Cell type
(prokaryotic/
eukaryotic)
Number of
cells (uni or
multicellular)
Significant
cell structures
Nutrition
(autotrophic/
heterotrophic
etc..)
Reproduction
(sexual,
asexual,
binary fission)
Movement
(yes or no)
One specific
example