Chapter 7
Classification
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
Clue 1
 The mystery creature is multicellular.
 Does this clue eliminate any of the living things
from the list? Why or why not?
Both the
Paramecium and
Bacteria are
unicellular
microorganisms.
They are made
up of only ONE
cell.
Clue 2
 The mystery creature does NOT
photosynthesize.
 Does this clue eliminate any of the living things
from the list? Why or why not?
The Sunflower is a photosynthetic
plant.
Remember that photosynthesis is the
process by which energy from the sun
(sunlight) is used to drive reactions
within plants (and some other
organisms) so that they can create
food in the form of carbohydrates.
Do you think there are any other
photosynthetic creatures on our list?
Which one(s)?
Clue 3
 Our Mystery Creature can move from
place to place.
 What creatures on our list are immobile?
The Sunflower and
the Mushroom are
immobile creatures;
They are unable to
move.
Are the Paramecium
and the Bacteria
immobile creatures?
Why or why not?
We’ve eliminated
some of the
organisms from
the list because
they belong to
other kingdoms.
The five kingdoms of living things are:
Monera - eubacteria and cyanobacteria
The five kingdoms of living things are:
Protista - protozoans and algae
The five kingdoms of living things are:
Fungi - non-photosynthetic, plantlike
decomposers
The five kingdoms of living things are:
Plant - multicellular photosynthesizers
The five kingdoms of living things are:
Animal - multicellular herbivores,
carnivores, and omnivores
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
Clue 4
 The mystery creature belongs to the
phylum Chordata, subphylum
Vertebrata of the Animal Kingdom.
What is a vertebrate?
Vertebrates have backbones
surrounding their spinal
cords.
What is an invertebrate?
Invertebrates do not have backbones.
Are there any invertebrates on our list?
A jellyfish is an invertebrate.
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
Clue 5
 The mystery creature belongs
to the class Mammalia.
Members of the same class have more in
common with each other than do members
of a kingdom, phylum, or sub-phylum.
Let’s describe the main characteristics of
the class mammalia.
One characteristic of mammals is that they
are warm-blooded (endothermic). What does
that mean?
Endotherms have processes that
keep their bodies at a constant
temperature no matter how hot or
cold the surroundings may be.
Birds and mammals are endothermic.
Other organisms are exothermic.
What does that mean?
Exotherms
Exothermic organisms are
those organisms that allow their
body temperature to vary with
the ambient temperature.
Exothermic organisms include
invertebrates, fish, amphibians,
and reptiles.
Which creatures remaining on our list
are exothermic?
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
One special characteristic of mammals is
their body covering. What covers the body of
a mammal? Hair or fur
Are there any creatures left on the list that
have a different body covering?
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
The parrot, alligator, goldfish, frog, and ostrich
are not mammals. They belong to 4 different
classes.
Members of the same class have more in
common with each other than do members of
a phylum.
Class Aves
Another special characteristic of mammals is
the way they nourish, or feed, their young.
How do mammals feed their young?
Mammals feed milk to their young
Let’s review the characteristics of
mammals
Mammals
are endothermic
have hair or fur
feed milk to their young
Are the remaining creatures on our list
mammals?
Clue 6
 The mystery creature belongs to the
order Carnivora.
 What is a carnivore?
Animals that belong to the order Carnivora
are those animals that feed upon flesh.
Anteaters and bats are not Carnivores.
They belong to the order Insectivora.
What do you think insectivores eat?
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
Clue 7
 The mystery creature belongs to the
Canidae family.
Members of the Canidae Family are
described as having these traits:
Long snouts, large ears,
and bushy tails.
Contain 5 toes on
forefeet and 4 toes on
their hind feet. Legs are
well adapted to run.
The toes on these
creatures contain nonretractile claws.
Large Ears
Long Snout
Cross off the
other members
of my family
now because
they do not
belong to the
Canidae family.
I have retractile
claws, and so do
other members of
the Felidae
family.
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
Clue 8
 The genus of the mystery
creature is Canis.
Genuses do consist
of very similar groups,
but the groups within
the same genus
generally do not
breed with one
another.
Wild and domestic
dogs are members of
the Genus Canis.
Does this eliminate
any of the creatures
remaining on our list?
Clue 9
 The final clue is the species of the
mystery creature.
 The species of the mystery creature
is Lupus.
Species (Lupus)
Members of the same species share many
common characteristics, and they also
breed with one another.
Our mystery creature is wild, hunts in
packs, and is the largest of all canines.
Still unsure?
Final Clue!
Red Riding Hood wasn’t very
happy when this creature ate her
grandmother!!!
The timber wolf is our mystery creature. Timber
wolf is the organisms common name.
The scientific name of the timber wolf consists of
the genus and species name Canis lupus.
Mystery Creature
Alligator
Leopard
Paramecium
Coyote
Jellyfish
Lion
Frog
Sunflower
Parrot
Anteater
German Shepherd
Bat
Goldfish
Mushroom
Timber Wolf
Tiger
Bacteria
Ostrich
Classification
You have just identified an organism using
the taxonomic classification system.
Classification is the identification, naming,
and grouping of organisms into a formal
system.
It was developed by a man named Carl
von Linnaues in the 1750’s.
Classification is important for so many
reasons. Here are a few:
It is a way to learn and gain knowledge.
One can gain information about a new species by
looking at the similarities and differences it has with
other species and those in its taxonomic categories.
Because there are so many different kinds of organisms,
it is important to arrange them in an orderly manner.
This way, biologists all over the world can be sure they
know the exact organism that is being examined and
discussed.
The End
Acknowledgements
 The Clipart images used in this
presentation were from Microsoft
software and also the Internet.
 Special thanks to Dr. Dropik for her
assistance.