• Sea-side Splat!

Key Words:
• Classification
• Taxonomy
• Taxon
• Phylogeny
• Binomial system
• Dichotomous key
• Classification is the grouping of
organisms based on similarities of features.

• Taxonomy is the science of studying

classification. It looks at features and tries to
arrange them in a logical order.
 A ‘TAXON’ is a unit of
hierarchical classification:
• ‘hierarchical’ means in ascending
sequence.
• A ‘species’ is the fundamental taxon
• Groups of similar species form the next
largest taxon called a ‘genus’.
• Groups of similar genera form the next
largest taxon called a ‘family’
• …and so on, up to the largest taxon =
Kingdom.
 What do you notice about how the
names are written?
• Fucus vesiculosus
• Fucus serratus
• Enteromorpha intestinalis
• Patella vulgata
• Balanus balanoides
• Actinia equina
• Littorina littorea
 ‘Binomial’ = 2 names

species – all in
lower case

Fucus vesiculosus

Genus – has
a capital letter
Italics (or underlined)
-to show the words are
different to ordinary text.
• Panthera leo
• Panthera tigris
• Panthera pardus
• Canis lupus ( and Canis domestica)
• Pan troglodytes
• Ovis aries
• Rattus norvegicus ; Rattus rattus
• Perca fluviatalis
• Carcharodon carcharias
 …and some easier ones!
• Boa constrictor
• Gorilla
• Giraffus
• Hippopotamus amphibius
• Bison bison
• Equus zebra
• Tyrannosaurus rex
• Elephas maximus
 Classification is hierarchical!
Each unit is called a TAXON –
there are 7 of them.
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
species
Taxon Cat Man

KINGDOM Animalia Animalia

PHYLUM Chordata Chordata
CLASS Mammalia Mammalia
ORDER Carnivora Primates

FAMILY Felidae - cats Anthropoids - apes

Genus Felis Homo

species cattus sapiens

 You need to remember the
sequence for the exam… so
here’s how!
‘Kinky Priests Come Over For
Great Sex’
 Phylogeny
• A phylogenetic tree is a family tree that
shows a hypothesis about the evolutionary
relationships thought to exist among groups
of organisms. It does not show the actual
evolutionary history of organisms.

• Why a hypothesis?
Phylogenetic trees are usually
based on a combination of
these lines of evidence:
Fossil record

Morphology

Embryological patterns of
development

Chromosomes and DNA

Fossils
 Similar
morphology
Embryology
DNA similarities
A phylogenetic tree
 The Dichotomous key
• A key is a device for easily and quickly identifying
an unknown organism.

• The dichotomous key is the most widely used type in

biological sciences.

• The user is presented with a sequence of choices between

TWO statements, couplets, based on characteristics of the
organism. By always making the correct choice, the name of
the organism will be revealed.
 A. one pair of wings ( goto 2)

1.
B. Two pairs of wings (goto 3)
Make a dichotomous key
 Phylogenetic example:
1 a) Endotherm (constant body temperature) Goto 2
b) Ectotherm ( cold-blooded) Goto 5
2 a) Fur Goto 3
b) Feathers Parrot
3 a) Fins Whale
b) At least two legs Goto 4
4 a) wings Bat
b) 4 legs Cat
5 a) fins Fish
b) No fins or limbs Snake