Vocabulary: Biology
Unit: 9: Classification and Taxonomy
Picture
Word
Classification
Taxonomy
Taxon
Binomial
nomenclature
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Date: 5th 6 weeks
Definition
-A system used by biologists to organize
and categorize living organisms into
groups based on similarities (genetic).
-A hierarchical system for identifying,
classifying and naming of all living
organisms.
-Developed by Carolus Linnaeus
-A particular group or level within a
taxonomical hierarchy.
-Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family,
genus, species.
-Taxon (singular). Taxa (plural)
-The two name system developed by
Carolus Linnaeus.
-A scientific name assigned to all
organisms that is composed of the Genus
and species names.
Ex. Felis concolor, Homo sapiens
-The largest (most inclusive) taxon.
-All living things fall into one of three
domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
-Based on cell types and cell membranes
-The second largest taxonomic ranking
-There are 6 kingdoms within the three
domains: Eubacteria, Archaeabacteria,
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
-based on number of cells, cell structures,
nutrition, and motility
-Each kingdom contains different phyla
-The third taxonomic grouping that is less
inclusive than kingdom.
-Ex. Phylum chordata contains all animals
-Each phylum is made up of different classes.
Class
-The fourth taxonomic level that is less
inclusive than phylum.
-Ex. Class mammalia includes all animals with
backbones that have hair and produce milk.
Picture
Word
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Phylogeny
Prokaryote
Eukaryote
Dichotomous Key
Definition
-Each class contains several different orders
that are less inclusive than classes.
--The fifth taxonomic level.
-Ex. Order Carnivora includes all of the meat
eating groups of animals such as the cats,
dogs, bears, seals, weasels, etc.
-Each order contains several different
families of organisms that are less inclusive
than orders.
-The 6th taxonomic level.
Ex: Family felidae is the Cat family. This
includes all cats.
-Each Family contains different genera (plural
for genus) which are closely related
organisms but are still separate species.
-less inclusive than families
Ex: The “roaring cats” vs. the “purring” cats
-Each genus may contain more than one kind
of species.
-The least inclusive taxonomic level that
contains only one type of organism.
-Organisms that are capable of breeding in
nature to produce viable, fertile offspring.
Ex. Lion Panthera leo
- The evolutionary history of a group of
organisms in terms of evolutionary
relationships with other groups
-A type of simple cell that does not have a
membrane bound nucleus or other
membrane bound organelles.
-Found only in Domains Bacteria and
Arachaea.
-A complex cell that has a membrane bound
nucleus along with other membrane bound
organelles.
-Found in all organisms of the Domain
Eukarya.
-A tool that allows the user to identify an
organism (or group of organisms) by going
through a series of choices of alternate
characters.
-like a 20 questions game