Classification Classification is The arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities/differences.

Classification

Classification is

The arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities/differences.

Why classify?

Helps to make sense of large # of organisms

Example (not living)– Stores, closets, CDs

History of Classification

Aristotle (Greek) 2000 years ago– Two groups

• Animals• Plants

Plants Animals

Plants Fungi Animals Protists

Protists Monerans

Archaebacteria Eubacteria

Classification of Living Things

Carolus Linnaeus

Founded taxonomy– Science of identifying, classifying and

naming living things Swedish physician and botanist,

1700s Based on similar structures

Introduction to Classification

Overview of Classification

Levels of Classification Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

King Phillip Came Over For Great Spaghetti

Levels of Classification

The Process of Classifying

Classification Chartof a bottle-nosed dolphin

Modern Classification

Also includes– Fossil studies– Hereditary info– Early stages of development

Phylogeny– The evolutionary history

Scientific Names

What’s in a Name? 2 part scientific name- Latin or Greek 1st part

– Genus– Always begins with Capital letter

2nd part– Species– Always begins with lowercase letter

Both parts are underlined or italicized

Why do we need scientific names? So scientists from all over the

world know what animal/plant that name refers to– can COMMUNICATE with each other

What is this organism called?

Woodchuck

Groundhog Three common names for one organism!

Whistle pig Marmota monax

What is this organism?

European robin

Erithacus rubecula

American robin

Turdus migratorius

Dichotomous Keys

Consists of several pairs of descriptive statements

Have only TWO alternative responses

Used to identify an organism

Dichotomous Key

Woodland voleAdult weight : 0.026 kg (0.0572 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 4 yearsFemale maturity :98 days

Gestation : 21 daysWeaning : 21 days

Litter size : 3Litters per year : 3

Interval between litters : 26 days

Order : Rodentia Family : Muridae

Species : Microtus pinetorum

Prairie voleAdult weight : 0.04 kg (0.088 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 5 yearsFemale maturity :47 days

Gestation : 23 daysWeaning : 20 days

Litter size : 4Litters per year : 4

Interval between litters : 26 days

Order : Rodentia Family : Muridae

Species : Microtus ochrogaster

White-footed mouseAdult weight : 0.023 kg (0.0506 lbs)Maximum longevity : 8 yearsFemale maturity :73 daysGestation : 26 daysWeaning : 22 daysLitter size : 5Litters per year : 4Interval between litters : 26 daysWeight at birth : 0.002 kg (0.0044 lbs)

Order : Rodentia Family : MuridaeSpecies : Peromyscus leucopus

Order : Rodentia Family : Muridae

Species : Peromyscus maniculatus

Deer mouseAdult weight : 0.021 kg (0.0462 lbs)

Maximum longevity : 8 yearsFemale maturity :49 days

Gestation : 24 daysWeaning : 22 days

Litter size : 5Litters per year : 3

Interval between litters : 27 daysWeight at birth : 0.002 kg (0.0044 lbs)

Classification of Living Organismswww.palaeos.com/kingdoms/

kingdoms.htm#three_domains Three-Domain Systemwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Three_domain_system Classification of Living Things

www.window.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Life/classification_intro.html