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Coach Frank 2015
Classification Lab
Names: _____________ ________________
I. Background: Of all the kingdoms of organisms, the animal kingdom is the most diverse in appearance. However, all the organisms in this kingdom share certain characteristics. Animals are multicellular heterotrophs made up of eukaryotic cells lacking cell walls. Over 95% of all animal species are invertebrates, lacking a backbone or vertebral column. Sizes range from the microscopic dust mite to a giant squid measuring more than 20 meters long. Other examples invertebrates include sea stars, worms, jellyfish, and insects. The remaining 5% are vertebrates, which do have a backbone. These organisms include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
II. Purpose: classify a random group of organisms found in Kingdom Animalia into their correct
Phylum using a classification key.
III. Materials: Animal specimens Classification keys (online-website) http://faculty.fmcc.suny.edu/mcdarby/Pages/ClassificationKey/ClassificationAnimalia.htm#14a .
Phylum choices:
Mollusca
Echinodermata Chordata
Cnidarian
Arthropoda
Porifera
IV.
Annelida
Procedure:
Platyhelminthes Nematoda
1. You will be given a designated number which will correspond to the specimen number you will start with. Be sure you observe all 12 organisms.
2. Do not shake, spin, or attempt to remove the lid on any of the jars.
3. Inspect and observe each specimen and use the classification key to determine to which Phylum the organisms belong.
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Record your results on your data sheet.
Data/Observations:
Divide your sheet into 3 columns.
Label the 1st column “Jar #” and below the title number 1-12.
Title the second column “Common Name” and the last column “Phylum.”

VI. Post lab
1.
After completion of the lab pick three specimens and look up their entire classification:
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and species.
Common N. ____________Common N. ____________Common N.____________
Kingdom _____________ _Kingdom ______________Kingdom_______________
Phylum _____________ __Phylum _______________Phylum_______________
Class _____________ ____Class _________________Class_______________
Order _____________ ___Order ________________Order_______________
Family _____________ __Family ________________Family_______________
Genus _____________ __Genus ________________Genus_______________
Species_____________ __Species ________________Species_______________
2.
Complete the following chart using the internet or Biology book as a resource.
Eubacteria
Unicellular Multicellular Heterotrophic Autotrophic Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Archaebacteria
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
3.
Describe what constitutes a Scientific Name.
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4.
Use information from Question #3 and give the scientific names of organism 1, 4, 7, and
12.
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