Classification What is classification? ___________________________ - putting things into orderly groups based on similar physical characteristics • ________________________ - the science of naming and classifying living things The History of Classification • __________________________(B.C.) • the first to classify organisms • classified ALL organisms as either plant or animal • Grouped by physical characteristics: Example: hair or no hair _______________________________ (1700s) • “Father of Taxonomy” • Created a system of naming and grouping organisms • based on similarities in structure • Based names on __________________ Linnaeus ALSO gave us….. ______________________ __ _________________________ • ______ word names • Based on Latin and Greek • First word is capitalized; second word is not • Both words should be underlined or italicized Example: Felis domesticus Today, scientists use a system similar to Linnaeus’s system with 8 levels of classification based on common characteristics • Levels Acronym Example • (Humans) • D omain d ancing Eukarya • K ingdom k angaroos Animalia • P hylum p refer Chordata • C lass c andy Mammalia • O rder o ver Primate • F amily f ancy Hominididae • G enus g reen Homo • S pecies s paghetti sapiens • Scientific name: Homo sapiens (Genus + species)