Classifying Living Things Final Study Guide Part B
1. Animals can be divided into two main groups:
2. Invertebrates are animals without ___________ , and make up more than _______ % of animal
species, most of which are ________.
3. Vertebraes are animals with some form of ____________.
4. ______ is the official language for naming organisms. The Swedish scientist ______
____________ used ________ when he created the first classification system in the 18th
century, because it was a common language that enabled ____________ to communicate with
one another across national borders; it doesn’t change and is the same worldwide.
5. The number of animal species presently identified totals about _____________, of which
____________ are insects, and about ___________ are vertebrates. Scientists believe there may
be as many as 9.6 million other species of animals that have not yet been identified.
6. __________ believed all organisms could be classified into one of two kingdoms, _______ and
__________. In the Linnean system, organisms that produce their own _______ and do not
move are classified as __________, while organisms that move and obtain their food by eating
other organisms were classified as _________.
7.
Linneaus had classified fungi as plants that do not move, but scientists discovered that fungi do
not make their own _______. They take in nutrients from ________ animals and plants, and are
different from plants in this regard. Scientists also discovered tiny single-celled organisms like
________. Some of these tiny organisms are able to move around, like animals, but many of
them also make their own _______, like plants.
8. Scientists began to modify their classification systems. Taxonomists are relying more and more
heavily on ______ and genetic evidence. By comparing DNA sequences of various species and
noting the number of ____________ in these sequences, scientists are able to determine which
organisms are most closely related.
9. Based on extensive DNA research, one view holds that organisms should in fact be divided into 3
large groups which scientists have begun to call “________”: 1. _________, 2. _________ singlecelled organisms like “archea”, and 3. __________ which includes animals, plants, fungi, and
other organisms.
Vocab Quiz on Thursday, Jan 8
Define these terms:
Algae: a group of living things that can make their own food; algae does not have true roots, stems, or
leaves, but they do have chlorophyl
Amoeba: a one-celled organism that moves by continually changing its shape called psuedopods
Classify: to put things into groups according to their characteristics
Diaphragm: an important muscle located between the chest and the abdomen in mammals; it’s used in
respiration (breathing)
Euglena: a tiny, single-celled organism often classified as algae because it has chlorophyll and seeks
sunlight
Eukaryote: a cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus
Fungus: a parasitic (doesn’t move) plant lacking chlorophyll, leaves, true stems, and roots; reproduces
by spores
Gills: organ in fish and amphibians for breathing oxygen dissolved in water; made of thin pliable layers
of tissue lining the neck
Homo sapiens: the Latin or scientific name for the human genus and species
Kingdom: the largest category of taxonomic classification based on common characteristics
Moneran: an organism without a membrane-bound nucleus, prokaryote; most are single-celled.
Prokaryote: a cell with no nucleus, the DNA floats freely inside the cytoplasm
Protist: single-celled or simple multi-celled organism with a nucleus and organelles
Protozoan: animal-like protist, most live in water, get food by eating other small organisms, singlecelled
Taxonomist: a biologist who specializes in classification
Vertebrata: animals with a backbone made of bony segments
Invertebrate: animals without backbones, most are insects, characterized by the presence or absence of
symmetry, a gut, a segmented body, organs, and organ systems