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 the way in which organisms are classified, taxon in greek means things that are
arranged into a group. So this tells us that organisms are organized into different groups to
make it easier for us to study them. Basically it is the practice and science of classification.
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
ACRONYM
King
Kingdom
Phillip
Phylum
Most
Specific
PLANT Example:
ANIMAL Example:
Plantae
Animalia
Angiospermophyta
Chordata
Class
Came
Monocotyledineae
Mammalia
Order
Over
Palmales
Carnivora
Family
For
Arecaceae
Canidae
Genus
Good
Phoenix
Canis
lupus
dactylifera
Sandwiches
species
3. Define species.
A species is a group of organisms that can interbread and produce fertile offspring and it is the
smallest taxonomic group.
4. In the space below, explain how the Linnean binomial system of nomenclature works, paying
attention to formatting conventions.
The Linnean binomial system of nomenclature is based on the physical traits of a species.
Eschericia coli – because the genus and speceis is typed it has to be in italics
E. coli- When you have used the full name of the organism already in the text then it can
be abbreviated.
For example when we look below at Homo sapiens we see that it is underlined because if it is hand
written it should be underlined and also the genus must always be capitalized.
Homo sapiens
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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?
Heterotrophy and autotrophy are two methods of feeding, heterotrophs are organisms that reply on
killing other animals for food because they do not produce their own food and autotrophs are organisms
that do not reply on other resources for food because they make their own this is represented in
Kingdom Plantae and heterotrophs are represented in Kingdom Animalia.
6. Distinguish between the following phyla of plants, using external characteristics. Give examples.
It is very simple, with no roots
or stem, with small leaves and
a fury appearance.
It has roots, short stems and leaves, the
leaves are divided up into sections and
may sometimes be curled.
Have pine needles for leaves
and is a woody tree
It has roots, stems and leaves
and it produces flowers
50cm
15m
Spores released from
capsule at end of the stalk
Spores are produced in
sporangia and there are
capsules under the leaves
100m
The seeds develop in
female cones
100m
The seeds dispersed
through fruits
7. Have a go at using a dichotomous key here:
http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/animals.html
Take the opportunity to build your vocabulary while completing this task.
Think of an animal, answer the questions and work through the classification.
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
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
`
No mouth or
anus
none
Porous, attached to
rocks, filter feed
radial
Mouth, no anus
none
Tentacle around
mouth, stinging cells
bilateral
Mouth, no
anus
none
Ribbon shaped body,
commonly parasites
bilateral
Mouth and
anus
Very
segmented
May have bristles and
visible blood vessels
Bilateral foot,
shell not
Mouth and
anus
Not visible
Many have shell, uses
sharp radula for rasping on
food
bilateral
Mouth and
anus
Segmented,
may have joints
none
9.
Distinguish between these terms:
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Exoskeleton,
jointed appendages
Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Radial symmetry
vs
Bilateral symmetry
vs
Asymmetrical
Radial symmetry is when no matter what angle you look at the organism from it is going to be
symmetrical. Bilateral symmetry is when the organism is symmetrical from one point generally
directly through the middle. Asymmetrical symmetry is when there is no symmetry and the
organism just completes itself on the opposite side not symmetrically.
10. Design and apply a dichotomous key to distinguish between these
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
11. Queensland shark species:
12. 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.
I think the Creek Whaler and the Black Tip Reef Shark are more closely related then the
other three options I was given because they have the same genus compared to the
others that did not have 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
A.
B.
C.
D.
ii.
They are two species in the same genus
iii.
They are members of the same order
iv.
They are from different phyla
i only
i and ii
ii and iii
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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