Classification/Taxonomy
1. Taxonomy is the science of grouping and naming organisms based on
______________________________________________.
Contributions to Classification/Taxonomy:
Aristotle
Linnaeus
2. Put the taxa in the correct order from largest (most kinds of organisms) to smallest (one kind of
organism) CLASS, DOMAIN, GENUS, FAMILY, KINGDOM, ORDER, PHYLUM, SPECIES
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. Members of the same ______________________ can mate and produce fertile offspring.
4. Taxonomists use a two part naming system to identify an organism. The scientific name of
an organism is the
and
This system of naming is called
5. A group of related species are in the same
6. A group of related families are in the same
7. A group of related phyla are in the same
of the organism.
.
Domains: The tree of life groups all living organisms based on evolutionary relationships
into large, inclusive groups, primarily based on the presence or absence of a nucleus within the
cell. The largest taxonomic group is called the domain. The two groups of prokaryotic
organisms are so different from each other that they are grouped into different domains. So the
original concept that all bacteria (prokaryotic organisms) should be classified in the same
kingdom (called Monera) has been altered. The three domains are: Archea (prokaryotic),
Bacteria (prokaryotic) and Eukarya (includes the kingdoms Protista, Fungi, Plantae and
Animalia).
Characteristics of the Different Kingdoms
Use the word bank to put the information in the correct kingdom categories on the following
page. (Terms may be used more than once)
Unicellular, multicellular, prokaryotic, eukaryotic, has cell walls, lacks cell walls,
heterotrophic, autotrophic (photosynthesis and/or chemosynthesis), saprophytic
(absorbs nutrients from dead or decaying organisms), mobile, sessile, bacteria, E. coli,
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Sulfolobus, thermophiles, paramecia, amoeba,
euglena, algae, oak tree, grass, moss, eagle, earthworm, sponge, horse, mushroom,
mold, mildew, yeast
Kingdom: Archeabacteria (previously Monera)
cell number
Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Kingdom: Eubacteria (previously Monera)
cell number
Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Kingdom: Protista (protists)
cell number
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Examples:
Kingdom: Fungi
cell number
Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
cell number
Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
cell number
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Classification of organisms is based on….
Examples:
Classification Worksheet
For each item in Column A, write the letter of the matching item in Column B.
Column A
Column B
1. The grouping of objects or information based on similarities.
A. Aristotle
2. The system that gives each organism two names.
B. Linnaeus
3. Developed the first method of classification, based on habitat.
C. Genus
4. The branch of biology in which organisms are grouped and named.
D. Classification
5. Consists of a group of related species.
E. Taxonomy
6. Designed a system to classify organisms based on similarities in
body structures and life cycle (development).
F. Binomial
Nomenclature
Examine the table showing the classification of four organisms. Then answer the
questions.
Taxon
House Cat
Mountain Lion
Domestic Dog
Human
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Felidae
Felis
domesticus
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Felidae
Felis
concolor
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Canidae
Canis
familiaris
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Hominidae
Homo
sapiens
7. Which two organisms are most closely related?
8. What three taxa do all four organisms have in common?
9. Which taxon includes organisms that have hair or fur and produce milk?
10. Which taxon includes animals with backbones?
11. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.
Classification Review Questions:
1. Earthworms, hydras, grasshoppers and humans all belong to the same
(a) genus
(b) species (c) phylum (d) kingdom
2. Within which category do the organisms show the least variation in characteristics?
(a) phylum (b) class
(c) family
(d) species
3. The scientific name of any organism consists of its
(a) phylum and class
(b) family and order
(c) genus and species
(d) species and class
4. Canis familiaris (the domestic dog) and Canis latrans (the coyote) are members of the same
(a) kingdom, but different phyla
(b) phylum, but different kingdoms
(c) genus, but different species
(d) order, but different classes
5. Use your text book or other resource to answer the following two questions.
Animals that have a dorsal nerve cord (spinal cord) are classified as
(a) chordates
(b) annelids
(c) arthropods
(d) coelenterates
6. Provide an example of each kind of organism mentioned above.
chordate
annelid
arthropod
coelenterate
7. Which of the following organisms are members of the Protist Kingdom?
(a) mosses and ferns
(b) jellyfish and hydras
(c) earthworms and leeches
(d) paramecia and euglenas
8. According to the modern, 6 Kingdom system of classification, which two are classified as
plants?
(a) ferns and maple trees
(b) fungi and slime molds
(c) algae and fungi
(d) pine trees and slime molds
9. The proper order for the classification of organisms is
(a) kingdom, phylum, species, genus
(c) phylum, kingdom, species, genus
(b) kingdom, species, phylum, genus
(d) kingdom, phylum, genus, species
10. In which group would there be the greatest similarity between members in terms of structure
and function?
(a) genus (b) kingdom (c) phylum (d) species
Base your answers to the following questions (11& 12) on the paragraph below:
“Today scientists generally agree that a group of organisms should be considered a
basic group if it consists of organisms which have certain similarities and which can
mate with each other and produce fertile offspring.”
11. The “basic group” referred to in the statement above is a
(a) genus
(b) species (c) phylum (d) kingdom
12. In the space below, list the characteristics which are referred to as “certain similarities” that
the basis for classifying organisms in the same basic group.