Taxonomy Notes
Chapter 17: Organizing Life’s Diversity
What is Taxonomy?
Discipline of ________________ organisms and assigning each ____________ a universally accepted ________.
Why Classify?
 To study the diversity of life, biologists use a ____________ __________to name organisms and _______
them in a _________ manner.
 When taxonomists classify organisms, they organize them into groups that have _________ _____________.
Common Names vs. Scientific Names
 ___________ __________ can be ________________ one organism can have many different names
 The ____________ is also known as a: Puma, Mountain Lion or Catamount
 Each organism only has _________ scientific name (_______ ___________)
 No matter where you are in the world the ___________ is Felis concolor
Assigning Scientific Names
 ______________ was a Greek philosopher who was the first to ____________ or group living things.
 He classified organisms into two groups:
 __________ and __________
 He subdivided those groups as well.
 Plants were subdivided into: Herbs, Shrubs and Trees
 Animals were subdivided based on their habitat and physical characteristics
 A Swedish botanist named __________ ______________ developed ____________ ______________, a twoword naming system for naming all species on earth.
 It is based on ________________ and _______________ similarities
 Still used today.
4 Reasons for using Latin
 dead language and will ______ change
 not __________________ like a common name
 _________ descriptive
 basis for _______ other _____________; English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
Binomial Nomenclature
 Each organism has a name consisting of ___ _________
 Examples: Homo sapiens _______________________ Tyto alba__________________________
 The _______part of the scientific name is the ________. This word is always written first and the
first letter is ________________. It appears in italics or is underlined.
 The _____________ part of the scientific name is the ____________ __________or _______
________. This word is always written second and the first letter is lower-case.
It appears in italics or is underlined.
The 8 Levels of Classification
They are, from largest to smallest
1. _______________ (this is a relatively new level separates Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota)
2. _______________ (separates plants from animals)
3. _______________ (separates into major groups within the Kingdom; plural: phyla)
4. _______________ (breaks Phyla down into smaller groups)
5. _______________ (even more specific)
6. _______________ (very similar characteristics)
7. _______________ (reproductive grouping)
8. _______________ (most specific)
THINKING CRITICALLY
1. What are the kingdom and class of Musca domestica? Kindom:______________ Class:______________
2. From the table, which 2 animals are most closely related?____________ and _____________
3. At what classification level does the evolutionary relationship between cats and wolves diverge (become
different)? ________________________________
EVOLUTIONARY CLASSIFICATION
 Biologists group organisms into categories that represent lines of ________________descent, or phylogeny,
not just physical similarities.
 Define Phylogeny: The study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.
Classification using Cladograms
Cladograms are diagrams that use derived _______________ to illustrate ______________relationships.
Definition of Clade: A group of organisms, such as a __________, whose members share homologous features
derived from a ____________ ______________.
Cladogram
“Mini-Lab”
Using a Cladogram to Show Relationships
Procedure
1. The following table shows the presence or absence of six derived traits in the seven dinosaurs that
are labeled A - G.
2. Use the information listed in the table below to answer the following questions.
Derived Traits of Dinosaurs
Dinosaur Trait
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Hole in hip socket
Yes
Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes
Yes
Extension of pubis bone
No
No
No
Yes Yes Yes
Yes
Unequal enamel on teeth
No
No
No
No
Yes Yes
Yes
Skull has “shelf” in back
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Grasping hand
Yes
Yes Yes
No
No
No
No
Three-toed hind foot
Yes
Yes No
No
No
No
No
Analysis (ANSWER THE FOLLOWING ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER)
1. Classify
Complete the missing information on the right side of the partially completed cladogram.
2. Observe
How many traits does dinosaur F share with dinosaur C, with dinosaur D, and with dinosaur E?
3. Infer
Dinosaurs A and B form a group called a clade. The dinosaurs A, B, and C form another clade.
What derived trait is shared only by the A and B clade?
By the A, B, and C clade?
By the D, E, F, and G clade?
4. Infer
Traits that evolved very early, such as the hole in the hip socket, are called primitive traits. The
traits that evolved later, such as a grasping hand, are called derived traits. Are primitive traits typical
of broader or smaller clades? Are derived traits typical of broader or smaller clades? Give an
example in each case.