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