Classifying Living
Things
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Species of Organisms
•
There are 8.7 million known different
species of organisms
•
New organisms are still being found and
identified
•
About 13,000-20,000 are discovered
each year
• “Eighty-six percent of all land-dwelling species and 91
percent in the water have yet to be discovered and
cataloged by science, according to an estimate published in
PLoS Biology by the Census of Marine Life scientists.”
Camilo Mora, Derek P. Tittensor, Sina Adl, Alastair G. B. Simpson, Boris Worm
Published: August 23, 2011DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001127Featured in PLOS Collections
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Credit: CoML
copyright cmassengale
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What is Classification?
 Classification
is the arrangement
of organisms into orderly groups
based on their similarities
 Classification
taxonomy
is also known as
 Taxonomists
are scientists that
identify & name organisms
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Benefits of Classifying
3 ways:
1. By learning about
characteristics of an individual
and the group
2. Classification makes it easier
to organize and find info about
specific organisms.
3. Prevent misnomers – like
jellyfish, sea horse, and
dogfish
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Confusion in Using Different
Languages for Names
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Latin Names are Understood by
all Taxonomists
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Early Taxonomists
•Aristotle
•Based his system on
where the organism lived
•Adam
(First Man)
•Named the animals
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Carolus Linnaeus
1707 – 1778
• 18th century taxonomist
•
Classified organisms by
their structure or
physical characteristics
•
Developed naming system
still used today
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Carolus Linnaeus
•
Called the “Father of
Taxonomy”
•
Created the modern system
of naming known as binomial
nomenclature
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Scientific Names
•Binomial
nomenclature:
◦ Binomial = “two – name”
◦ Nomenclature = “naming – system”


Fennec Fox
Two-word name known as the
scientific name
A non-scientific name is known as
the common name
Vulpes zerda
used: Latin or Greek
(because they are descriptive
languages)
Rainbow lorikeet
•Italicized in type/print
•Capitalize Genus name, but NOT
species
Trichoglossus haematodus
•Underline when writing
•Languages
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Binomial Nomenclature
Which TWO are in the same Genus?
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Binomial Nomenclature
Canis lupus
copyright cmassengale
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Classification Groups
• Taxon
( taxa-plural) is a
category into which related
organisms are placed
• There
is a hierarchy of
groups (taxa) from
broadest to most specific
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8 Levels of Classification
BROADEST TAXON
Domain
 Kingdom

Phylum (Division – used for plants)

Class

Order

Family

Genus
Most Specific

Species
taxon

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
Domain

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species!
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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae
Genus Panthera
Species leo
http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/personnel/tom_b/200
4-lion.jpg
copyright cmassengale
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Domains
Broadest, most inclusive taxon
TWO DOMAINS:
•
1.
Prokarya
a) No nucleus
b) No organelles
2.
Eukarya
a) Nucleus
b) Organelles
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Domains:
Prokarya
Eukarya
Kingdoms:
 Kingdom
Archaebacteria
 Kingdom
Eubacteria
 Protista
 Fungi
 Plantae
 Animalia
copyright cmassengale
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Kingdom Archaebacteria
•
•
Live in HARSH environments
Found in:
– Sewage Treatment Plants
– Thermal or Volcanic Vents
– Hot Springs or Geysers that are acidic
– Very salty water (Dead Sea; Great Salt
Lake)
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ARCHAEAN
Prismatic Pool, Yellowstone Park
Deep sea ocean vent
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Kingdom
EUBACTERIA
Some may cause DISEASE (pathogens)
• Found in ALL HABITATS except harsh
ones
• Important decomposers for environment
• Commercially important in making:
•
• cottage cheese,
• yogurt,
• buttermilk, etc.
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Live in the intestines of animals
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Domain Eukarya is Divided
into 4 Kingdoms
Protista (protozoans, algae…)
• Fungi (mushrooms, yeasts …)
• Plantae (multicellular plants)
• Animalia (multicellular animals)
•
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Kingdom Protista
•MOST
are unicellular
(made of ONE cell)
•Some are multicellular
•Some are autotrophic,
while others are
heterotrophic
•Mostly Aquatic
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Kingdom Fungi
•
•
•
•
Multicellular, except
yeast
Absorptive
heterotrophs (digest
food outside their
body & then absorb
it)
Cell walls made of
chitin
Main function is
Decomposition
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Kingdom Plantae
•Multicellular
plants
•Autotrophic- Absorb sunlight to make
glucose through Photosynthesis
•Cell
walls made of cellulose
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Kingdom Animalia
•Multicellular
•Ingestive
heterotrophs
(consume food & digest
it inside their bodies)
•Feed on plants or
animals
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Problems with Classification

Man made – will have mistakes

Uncertainties – sometimes there is not a
clear definition of a “genus” or “species”

•
False Conclusions – Evolutionists try to
name and classify organisms according to
how they believe the organisms evolved
Classification is a tool to aid our
understanding of God’s Creation
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Classifying a Species
•
Defining what species is
difficult because many
factors are considered:
• Members of a species are
structurally similar but do have a
degree of variation
• Members of a species can interbreed
and produce viable and fertile
offspring
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Problems with Species Concept:
•
Since an organism’s
environment can greatly
affect its appearance,
classification by physical
characteristics is only an
artificial method that could
contain errors
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