Classification/Taxonomy
1. Taxonomy is the science of grouping and naming organisms based on common
characteristics such as homologous structures, life cycles and development
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
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genius, Species
3. Members of the same Species 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 Genius and Species of the organism.
This system of naming is called Binomial nomenclature.
5. A group of related species are in the same genus.
6. A group of related families are in the same order.
7. A group of related phyla are in the same kingdom.
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 Unicelluar Examples:
cell type and Prokaryotic, has cell walls
description
nutrition Heterotrophic or autotrophic
locomotion
Kingdom: Eubacteria (previously Monera)
cell number Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Kingdom: Protista (protists)
cell number Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
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 Examples:
cell type and
description
nutrition
locomotion
Classification of organisms is based on….
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 F. Binomial
body structures and life cycle (development). Nomenclature
Examine the table showing the classification of four organisms. Then answer the questions.
Taxon House Cat Mountain Lion Domestic Dog Human
Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia
Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata Chordata
Class Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia
Order Carnivora Carnivora Carnivora Primates
Family Felidae Felidae Canidae Hominidae
Genus Felis Felis Canis Homo
Species domesticus concolor familiaris sapiens
7. Which two organisms are most closely related? House Cat and Mountain Lion.
8. What three taxa do all four organisms have in common? Phylum, Kingdom and Class.
9. Which taxon includes organisms that have hair or fur and produce milk? Class-Mammalia
10. Which taxon includes animals with backbones? Phylum-Chordata
11. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.
House Cat- Felis Domesticus, Mountain Lion- Felis Concolor Domestic Dog- Conis Familiaris
Human- Homo sapiens
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
Snake Worm Crab Jellyfish
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.
Homologous Structures, Common ancestry, evolution history, behaviors, life cycle/development
