Unit 1: Diversity of Living Things
Lesson 2: The Nature of Classification
Categorize and organize the following words in a manner that is meaningful. Be prepared to explain
your classification method.
Monkey
Modern Family Maple Trees
Cardigans
Pigs
The Office
Jeans
Orchids
Humans
Mushrooms
Heeled Shoes
Mazda Protégé
Rocks
Whales
Bridesmaids
Snakes
Chimpanzee
Rainbows
Boeing 747
Khakis
Harry Potter
Cardinals
Soil
Spiders
Ostrich
Socks
Lord of the Flies
Roses
Apple Trees
Glee
You can imagine how daunting a task it is to try and categorize all the species in the world into a
meaningful system! How do taxonomists do it?
Taxonomy – Developing a Classification System
Taxonomy: is the science of identifying and classifying all organisms.
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) is considered the father of taxonomy. He established a
naming system that is still in use today. He used binomial nomenclature.
Binomial Nomenclature: the formal system of naming species whereby each
species is assigned a genus name followed by a specific name; the two words taken
together form the species name. Ex: Homo sapiens , Canis familiaris, Felis Catus
Linnaeus grouped species into taxonomic ranks, or levels, based on shared characteristics. Each level
is called a taxon (plural: taxa).
Traditional Taxonomic Ranks of Classification:
Taxon
Human
Walrus
Animalia
Animalia
KINGDOM
Bald Eagle
Honey Bee
Animalia
Animalia
PHYLUM
Chordata
Chordata
Chordata
Arthropoda
CLASS
Mammalia
Mammalia
Aves
Insecta
ORDER
Primates
Carnivora
Accipitriformes
Hymenoptera
FAMILY
Hominidae
Odobenidae
Accipitridae
Apidae
GENUS
Homo
Odobenus
Haliaeetus
Apis
SPECIES
Homo sapiens
Odobenus rosmarus
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Apis mellifera
KINGDOM  PHYLUM  CLASS  ORDER  FAMILY  GENUS  SPECIES
As you go from left to right, they become more closely related.
Dichotomous Keys: a series of branching, two-part statements used to identify organisms (or
objects)
Taxonomy – Developing a Classification System
Taxonomy:
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) is considered the father of taxonomy. He established a
naming system that is still in use today. He used_________________________.
Binomial Nomenclature:
Linnaeus grouped species into taxonomic ranks, or levels, based on shared characteristics. Each level
is called a taxon (plural: taxa).
Traditional Taxonomic Ranks of Classification:
Taxon
Human
Walrus
Bald Eagle
Honey Bee
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Chordata
Chordata
Chordata
Arthropoda
Mammalia
Mammalia
Aves
Insecta
Primates
Carnivora
Accipitriformes
Hymenoptera
Hominidae
Odobenidae
Accipitridae
Apidae
Homo
Odobenus
Haliaeetus
Apis
Homo sapiens
Odobenus rosmarus
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Apis mellifera
Dichotomous Keys: a series of branching, two-part statements used to identify organisms (or
objects)
Activity:
How are dichotomous keys created? What are their key features that allow them to work? – start
general and then get more specific. Start with making a grouping of categories. The features
identified should have only two choices (ex: boys/girls) (taller than 5’3, shorter than 5’3) (glasses/no
glasses) (dark hair/light hair)
Create a dichotomous key to allow you to identify each student in the classroom. (need name tags) (be
respectful – nothing that might be offensive or inappropriate).
Create a dichotomous key to allow you to identify each student’s shoe in the classroom.