Classification Notes
Name: __________________________ NOTES#
Date: ___________________
Color: _______________
1. What is Classification?
a. Technique use to ____________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________ - study of classifying organisms
c. Taxonomists are scientists who study classifying
d. Taxon (taxa-plural) is a category into which related organisms are placed
2. Reasons to Classify:
a. ________________________________________________________________
b. Accurately & uniformly name organisms
c. Uses ____________________ for all names
d. ____________________________ developed the modern system of naming known as
____________________________________, a two-word name (Genus & species)
3. Scientific Names:
a. Scientific names should be ____________ in print or
____________________ when writing
b. Always _____________________________ name, but write the species in
______________
c. The scientific name for man is Homo sapiens
4. Taxonomic categories:
a. Linnaeus placed organisms into related groups called taxa or levels based on
their morphology (_____________________________________________)
b. The largest or broadest level of classification is the _________________
c. The other seven levels from broadest to most specific are:
________________________________________________________
d. A sentence to help remember these levels is
e. Each level groups together organisms that share more characteristics than the level above
5. Basis for Modern taxonomy:
a. Modern taxonomists classify organisms based on their ______________________________
b. Homologous structures- _______________________________________________________
i.
c. Analogous structures - ______________________________________________________
i.
d. Similarity in embryo development and DNA show a close relationship
6. Modern Taxonomic System:
a. Modern taxonomy used three domains: _________________________________________
i. ___________________________ (kingdom Archaea) contains chemosynthetic
bacteria living in harsh environments
ii. ___________________________ (kingdom Bacteria) contains all other bacteria
including those causing disease
iii. ___________________________ (kingdoms Protista, Fungi, Plantae, & Animalia)
contains all eukaryotic organisms
b. Six kingdoms - __________________________________________________________
i. Archaea & Bacteria are _____________________________________________
ii. Protista, Fungi, Plantae, & Animalia are all ________________________ with a
nucleus & membrane-bound organelles
7. Phylogeny (evolutionary history):
a. Phylogenetic trees are __________________________ showing how organisms are related
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
_________________________________ help establish relationships on a phylogenetic tree
Organizes living things based on their evolution
Common ancestor is shown at the base of the tree
Most modern organisms shown at tips of branches
Each time a branch divides, a new species evolves
g. ____________________________ shows how organisms are
related based on shared, derived characteristics such as
feathers, hair, scales, etc.
8. Dichotomous Keys:
a. Aim to identify an ___________________________________
b. Consists of several steps that must be followed ______________
c. There are only ________________________________________
Try to use the following dichotomous key and identify the two animals shown:
1.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
a.
b.
a.
b.
a.
b.
a.
b.
a.
b.
a.
b.
a.
b.
a.
This mammal flies. Its hand is formed into a wing.
This mammal does not fly.
This mammal has a naked (no fur) tail.
This mammal doesn’t have a naked tail.
This mammal has a short, naked tail.
This mammal has a long, naked tail.
This mammal has a black mask across its face.
This mammal does not have a black mask across its face.
This mammal has a tail that is flattered and shaped like a paddle.
This mammal has a tail that is not flattened and shaped like a paddle.
This mammal is brown with a white underbelly.
This mammal is not brown with a white belly.
This mammal has a long, furry tail that is black on the tip.
This mammal has a long tail without much fur.
This mammal is black with a white stripe on its forehead and white
stripes on its back.
b. This mammal is not black with white stripes.
a. This mammal has long ears and a short, cottony tail.
b. This mammal has short ears and a medium-length tail.
Little brown bat
Go to step 2
Go to step 3
Go to step 4
Eastern mole
Go to step 5
Raccoon
Go to step 6
Beaver
Opossum
Go to step 7
Go to step 8
Long tail weasel
White-footed mouse
Striped skunk
Go to step 9
Eastern cottontail
Woodchuck
The dichotomous key shown can be used to identify birds W, X, Y, and Z. Bird X is most likely?
a. Certhidea
b. Geospiza
c. Camarhynchus
d. Platypiza
Domain
Archaea
Bacteria
Kingdom
Archaea
Bacteria
Types of
Cells
Unicellular
or
Multicellular
Movement
Nutrition
Examples
Eukarya
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia