Transcript Seven Levels of Taxonomic Classification

Biological Classification
Why classify?
• Humans have developed
classification systems in order to
make sense of the abundant
biological diversity that exists in
nature.
Taxonomy
• …the identification, naming, and
classification of species
• Taxonomists spend their time
searching for previously unknown
organisms, determining their
relationships to known organisms,
and giving them names.
The Linnaean System of Classification
• The system is hierarchical.
– Larger groups are more general and
smaller groups are more specific.
– For example, the phylum Chordata
includes both lions and lionfish, but the
genus Panthera includes only lions.
Panthera
Chordata
The Linnaean System of Classification
• The system is phylogenetic.
– It is meant to reflect the evolutionary
interrelatedness among groups.
– For example, the grey wolf and the dog both are
placed in the genus Canis because of their close
evolutionary relationship.
– Homologous structures are the clues used to
assess how closely organisms are related.
A nested hierarchy is the name given to the hierarchical structure of "groups within
groups" used to classify organisms. This pattern reflects evolution by common descent.
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
Kingdom, Phylum…what?
• An easy way to remember the
classification levels:
“Kansas Predators Catch Old
Furry Grey Squirrels”
• Try to make up your own!
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Grizzly Bear
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
Kingdom
• The most general of the seven
levels.
• Traditionally, biologists have
recognized five different
kingdoms: Monerans, Protists,
Fungi, Plants, Animals
Phylum (plural: phyla)
• Each kingdom is subdivided into
smaller, more specific groups
called phyla.
Class
• Each phylum is subdivided into
smaller groups called classes.
Order
• Each class is subdivided into
smaller groups called orders.
Family
• Each order is subdivided into
smaller groups called families.
Genus (plural: genera)
• Each family is subdivided into
smaller groups called genera.
Species
• Each genus is subdivided into smaller
groups called species.
• The species is the most specific level of
classification.
Scientific Names
• The scientific name (binomial) of
an organism contains two parts—
the name of the genus and the
name of the species.
Writing Scientific Names
• The rules for writing scientific names:
-CAPITALIZE the first letter of the genus name.
-Do not capitalize the species name.
-Both names must be underlined or italicized.
• Example: human = Homo sapiens
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Lion
• Kingdom-Animalia
• Phylum-Chordata
• Class-Mammalia
• Order-Carnivora
• Family-Felidae
• Genus-Panthera
• Species-leo
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Human
• Kingdom-Animalia
• Phylum-Chordata
• Class-Mammalia
• Order-Primates
• Family-Hominidae
• Genus-Homo
• Species-sapiens
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Amoeba
• Kingdom-Protista
• Phylum-Sarcodina
• Class-Rhizopoda
• Order-Amoebida
• Family-Amoebidae
• Genus-Amoeba
• Species-proteus
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Dog
• Kingdom-Animalia
• Phylum-Chordata
• Class-Mammalia
• Order-Carnivora
• Family-Canidae
• Genus-Canis
• Species-familiaris
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Dandelion
• Kingdom-Plantae
• Phylum-Tracheophyta
• Class-Anthophyta
• Order-Asterales
• Family-Compositae
• Genus-Taraxacum
• Species-officinale
Seven Levels
of Taxonomic
Classification
for the…
Collared
Anteater
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Xenarthra
• Family: Myrmecophagidae
• Genus Tamandua
• Species: tetradactyla