Classification/Taxonomy

1. Taxonomy is the science of grouping and naming organisms based on

______________________________________________.

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

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

3. Members of the same ______________________ 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 and of the organism.

This system of naming is called .

5. A group of related species are in the same

6. A group of related families are in the same

7. A group of related phyla are in the same

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 Examples:

cell type and

description

nutrition

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?

8. What three taxa do all four organisms have in common?

9. Which taxon includes organisms that have hair or fur and produce milk?

10. Which taxon includes animals with backbones?

11. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.
 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

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.