Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Sources to use: Allot text (p205-210), Click4Biology, Class presentations, The Habitable Planet
(http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/)
1. Define taxonomy.
Taxonomy is how scientists define and classify organisms into groups depending on their physical
similarities.
2. In the table below, list the seven levels in the hierarchy of taxa and design an acronym to help
you remember them. Using two examples from different kingdoms give all seven levels.
Hierarchical level
Most
diverse
Kingdom
Phylum
Most
Specific
ACRONYM
K.G.M
P.L.M
PLANT Example:
ANIMAL Example:
Plantae
Animalia
Angiosperms
Chordata
Class
C.L.S
Liliopsida
mammalia
Order
O.D.R
Asparagales
Primate
Family
F.M.L
Hycinthaceae
Hominidae
Genus
G.N.S
Hycinthoides
Homo
Non-scripta
sapien
species
S.P.S
3. Define species.
Species are the most specific of Taxa and when referring to an organism you will put the genus first and
then the species.
4. In the space below, explain how the Linnean binomial system of nomenclature works, paying
attention to formatting conventions.
Eschericia coli- The first name is the Genus and the second name is the species. The
Genus always comes first and begins with a capital letter whereas the species name begins with a lower
E. coli-This is the abbreviated form of Eschericia coli. If you are writing about Eschericia
coli then you can abbreviate it as long as you have the full name before in the paragraph.
Homo sapiens -can be abbreviated to H. sapien
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
5. Distinguish between heterotrophy and autotrophy. Which feeding method is represented by the
Kingdom Plantae and which by the Kingdom Animalia?
Heterotrophs are organisms that consume other organisms for food (Kingdom Animalia).
Autotrophs are organisms that make their own food (Kingdom Plantae).
6. Distinguish between the following phyla of plants, using external characteristics. Give examples.
No roots have stems and leaves
2 cm20cm
asexual
Stems, leaves and roots
15 meters
asexual
Roots, stems and leaves
6cm tall
asexually
Roots, stems and leaves
1 meter
sexual
7. Have a go at using a dichotomous key here:
http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/animals.html
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Take the opportunity to build your vocabulary while completing this task.
Think of an animal, answer the questions and work through the classification.
Flamingo
-kingdom: Animalia
-phylum:
-class: aves
-order: Ciconiiformes
-family: Phoenicopteridae
-Genus: Phoenicopterus
-Species: ruber
8. Distinguish between the following phyla of animals, using external recognition features and
giving examples. Check your answers here: http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/map.html
none
Surface covered
in pores.
radial
Tentacles
around mouth.
bilateral
Body-flat, thin
.no blood system
bilateral
Blood vessels
visible
bilateral
Hard radula for
feeding.
bilateral
Segmented body
and legs.
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
9.
Distinguish between these terms:
Radial symmetry
vs
Bilateral symmetry
vs
Asymmetrical
Radial- circular symmetry
Bilateral- the left half is identical to the right half.
Asymetrical- both sides are different.
Motile
vs
Sessile
Motile- organisms that re mobile and can move around.
Sessile- organisms that stay in one place such as a plant that cannot move around on its own.
10. Design and apply a dichotomous key to distinguish between these
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Queensland shark species:
11. Look at the species names for the sharks in the chart.
a. Which of the following pairs is most closely related?
A. Black Tip Reef Shark and
White Shark
B. Grey Reef Shark
and
Shortfin Mako
C. Grey Reef Shark
and
Winghead
D. Creek Whaler
and
Black Tip Reef Shark
b. Explain your answer to a.
They are in the same Genus.
c. Which of the following is/are true for the Great Hammerhead and Scalloped
Hammerhead?
i. They are two subspecies of the same species
ii.
They are two species in the same genus
iii.
They are members of the same order
iv.
They are from different phyla
A. i only
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
B. i and ii
C. ii and iii
D. iv only
d. Which of the following is/are true of all of the sharks in the chart?
i.
They are members of the same species
ii.
They are part of the same genus
iii.
They are part of the same class
iv.
They are part of the same kingdom
B. i only
C. i and ii
D. ii and iii
E. iii and iv
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