Classification/Kingdoms Test Study Guide
Carolus Linnaeus founded the science of taxonomy.
Taxonomy: is the science of identifying, classifying and naming of organisms. Linnaeus came up
with the system of binomial nomenclature; the two part naming system that gives scientific names to
organisms. There can be many common names for an organism but there is only be one scientific name
for an organism. The scientific name is made up of the organisms Genus and species name. For example a dog can
have many common names such as; puppy, pooch, pup dog, doggy but it only has one scientific name Canis lupus.
Its genus name is Canis and its species name is lupus. Canis lupus contains only one species. The genus name is
capitalized and the species is lowercase. The name should also be either italicized or underlined.
Why do scientists classify organisms? Scientists put organisms in organized groups based on their
similarities and differences to understand evolutionary relationships between organisms and to be able to
communicate with each other about organisms.
How do scientists classify things?
Scientists use dichotomous keys to identify organisms. Dichotomous keys include descriptive
statements and depending on the answer to each statement you can identify and unknown organism.
We worked with several dichotomous keys which should be glued into your notebook.
8 Levels of Classification
Scientists classify organisms into 8 levels of classification.
Domain largest level: contains the most organisms
Kingdom
Phylum
Family
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species most specific level contains one organism
We use the pneumonic:
There are three domains
Archaea –includes all archaebacteria
Bacteria –includes all eubacteria
Eukaryota- animals, plants, protists, fungi
Didn’t King Phillip Came Over For Grape Soda to remember the 8 levels of classification.
Scientists place organisms in the kingdom they belong by looking at several characteristics:
1.
If the organism has prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells: If the cells in the organism do not have a
nucleus, then that organism has prokaryotic cells. If the cells in an organism have a nucleus then the
organism has eukaryotic cells.
2. If the organism is a producer, consumer or decomposer: does this organism make its own food
(producer), does it feed on other organisms (consumer) or does it feed off of dead organisms
(decomposer)?
3. If the organism unicellular or multicellular: Is the organism single celled or is it many celled?
There are 6 kingdoms that all organisms can be organized into and they are…
Archaebacteria: Prokaryotic, unicellular “ancient” bacteria that have been around for 3 billion years and live in
harsh environments like hot springs and volcanoes. Examples include: methane maker, salt lover, heat lover
Eubacteria:
the majority of different types of bacteria are classified as
eubacteria. They can live in soil, water and the human body and examples
include: E-Coli, salmonella, MRSA and streptococcus. Some food borne illnesses
are caused by bacteria. Eubacteria reproduce asexually by a process called
binary fission. Some bacteria can even form a protective coating called an
endospore to help them survive harsh conditions. Bacteria have three shapes;
spirilla, bacilli and cocci.
Protists:
are eukaryotes that do not fit totally in any other group, called the “odds and ends” group. These
organisms may have characteristics of plants, animals or fungus but do not fit well in those groups so they are
considered protists.

Animal-like protists: These protozoans are animal-like protists. They are consumers and they move in
different ways. An amoeba uses its pseudopods to move, the flagellate uses its flagellum or whip-like tail
to move, and a paramecium uses its cilia to move. Parasitic protists (and all other parasites) get their
nutrients from their hosts. Parasites need to live off another organism’s body to get food.
3 Ways Protists can move around:
Flagella – whip-like tails Cilia – Hundred of tiny hairs Pseudopodia – “False Feet”

Plant-like protists: algae and seaweed are plant like protists. These organisms are like plants because
they get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis . They are producers, in that they produce
their own energy from sunlight.

Fungus-like protists: slime molds and water molds are fungus like protists. Fungus-like protists can be
decomposers or parasites.
Fungi: eukaryotes that are heterotrophic but are decomposers because they absorb nutrients from
dead organisms and organic matter to get energy. Examples of fungi are molds, mildew and mushrooms.
Different types of fungi: Threadlike: bread mold
Sac fungi: yeast
Club fungi: mushrooms
Imperfect: penicillin
Plant: Multicellular producers that use sunlight to make their own food through photosynthesis.
Animal: Multicellular consumers that eat plants and other animals for food and most move.
Characteristics of bacteria and viruses how are similar, how are they different?
Bacteria
both
Viruses
reproduce on their own
have DNA
can’t reproduce without a
host
can be helpful to humans
reproduce
do not need energy
prokaryotic cells
can harm or have no effect not made of cells
on us
examples: E.coli, salmonella,
Examples: cold, flu, HIV
lactobacillus
*Viruses are not considered to be living things because they do not have cells, do not use energy
and they cannot reproduce on their own.
The characteristics of the six kingdoms:
Kingdom
Prokaryotic/
Eukaryotic
Heterotrophic/
Autotrophic
Unicellular/
Multicellular
Examples
Archaebacteria
Prokaryotic
either
Unicellular
Heat lovers
Eubacteria
Prokayotic
either
Unicellular
E. coli, Strep
Protists
Eukaryotic
either
either
Fungi
Eukaryotic
Heterotrophic
either
Plant
Eukaryotic
Autotrophic
Multicellular
Seaweed, Amoeba
Slime mold
Yeast, mushroom,
mildew
Rose, apple tree
Animal
Eukaryotic
Heterotrophic
Multicellular
Giraffe, human