Page 1 Answer Key
What is the definition of
classification
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Putting things into orderly groups
based on similar characteristics.
What is the definition of taxonomy?
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The SCIENCE of describing,
classifying, and naming LIVING
things.
Who was the founder of modern
taxonomy?
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Carolus Linnaeus
Today there are 8 levels of
classification. Starting with the
broadest, what are they?
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Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class,
Order, Family, Genus, Species
An organism’s scientific two-part
name comes from which two levels
of classification.
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Genus and Species
In an organism’s two part name,
both words are italicized but which
word is capitalized and which is not?
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Genus – Capitalized
Species – Not Capitalized
The scientific name of the common
house cat is Felis domesticus. What
genus is the cat in?
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Felis
What is the purpose of a
dichotomous key?
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To help identify animals. It uses
pairs of descriptions to narrow down
the options.
Why is the system of classification
always growing?
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Scientists are still finding new
organisms.
Is phylum or family a more specific
grouping of organisms?
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Family is more specific.
Page 2 Answer Key
What are the names of the three
domains?
Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
Which four kingdoms are in the
domain Eukarya? What do they all
have in common?
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
A nucleus
What is a prokaryote?
A single celled organism with NO
nucleus.
Which kingdoms are prokaryotic?
Archaea and Bacteria
What is the only main difference
between Archaea and Bacteria?
Archaea are found in extreme
environments and bacteria are
found in more mild locations.
Which kingdom is being described?
“Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms
with a cell wall, and make own food.”
Plantae
What is the difference between
fungi and plantae?
Plantae make their own food, fungi
get energy from dead plants and
animals.
Which three kingdoms are
multicellular?
Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
What are some characteristics of
the kingdom Animalia?
Complex multicellular organisms
that don’t have cell walls, and are
usually able to move around.
What is the difference between
living in a colony and being
multicellular?
Each cell in a colony is independent
of the others. Cells in multicellular
organisms need one another.
Page 3 Answer Key
Here, draw a concept map of the
candies on the other side.
Using the dichotomous key, What
are the scientific names of the
candies shown below?
Gummy Bears
Starburst
Fireball
What is the name of a hard candy,
that is not spherical, whose wrapper
is transparent and clear?
Ursa gummius
Stellaria explodus
Spherus combustus
Mintus stripus
Page 4 Answer Key
Use the branching diagram above to
answer the following questions.
Which animal is most closely related
to the chimp? Why?
Mouse because it is the closest on
the diagram.
Which animals have lungs?
Salamander, Lizard, Pigeon, Mouse,
Chimp
Which animal is least related to the
chimp? Why?
Hagfish because it is the furthest
away on the diagram.
What do the lizard, pigeon, mouse,
and chimp have in common?
Claws or nails