Classification / Analogy
In order to develop a better understanding of classification, an
analogy was created to help explain the breakdown of the
levels. Please be advised that this analogy works well for our
purposes, but has it’s limitations. These limitations will be
discussed at the end of the slide show. Please do not look
deeper into the analogy until told to do so.
The 7 levels of classification are as follows:
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
species
How the analogy works:
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Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
species
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planet
continent
country
state (providence)
city
neighborhood
house
The levels of classification work as one moves up from the
most specific to the least specific. That is to say that the very
most specific species (location) is found in the species
(house) level.
How to scientifically write the
name of an organism?
• In order to appropriately write the name of an organism,
scientists use what is known as scientific nomenclature.
• The name of organism is written with it’s Genus and
species.
• Example: Carcharodon carcharias refers to the great
white shark.
• Notice these key points of scientific nomenclature:
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words are in the Latin language (the root of all languages)
Genus is capitalized
species is not capitalized
both words are italized
Why do we use scientific
nomenclature?
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The common names we use today are too
general and vague to pin-point one
specific organism.
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Example: The term “shark” could mean any number
of sharks in the ocean. A white shark could be a
Great White or a Mako shark, depending on where in
the world the name is used. Only the term
Carcharodon carcharias absolutely refers to a very
specific species of shark.