Classification

Classification

What is classification?– Organising living things into groups:

• Anatomy• Genetics

Horseshoe crab

Anatomically - looks like a crab

Genetically - more closely related to spiders

Why classify organisms?

Blue whale - MAMMAL

Classification

Why classify organisms?• Helps others understand which species you are talking

about• Can group species based on shared characteristics• To study phylogeny – how related species are

Emperor penguin - BIRD Dusky dolphin - MAMMAL

Classification

• Linnaean classification– Genus and species, e.g. Homo sapiens

Panthera leo Panthera tigris

Classification

• Genus and species are the tip of the iceberg

• There are many different levels in the classification hierarchy

• Top level is the 5 Kingdoms:

– Protists (e.g. amoebae, algae)– Prokaryotes (e.g. bacteria, archaebacteria)– Fungi – Plants– Animals

Classification

• ~ 1.26 million animal species

• Vertebrates and invertebrates

• ~ 1.2 million are invertebrates

(e.g. insects, crustaceans)

• ~ 60,000 are vertebrates

Kingdom Animalia

Great white shark VERTEBRATE

Monarch butterfly INVERTEBRATE

Classification

INVERTEBRATES• No spinal column (also called backbone)• No internal skeleton

VERTEBRATES• Have a spinal column• Have an internal skeleton

Vertebrates are divided into five groups:• Fish• Amphibians• Reptiles• Birds• Mammals

Seven-spot ladybird INVERTEBRATE

Purple frog VERTEBRATE

Classification

• Produce milk from mammary glands to feed young

• Maintain constant body temperature (warm-blooded)

• Covering of hair

• Give birth to live young

Mammals

The Vertebrates

• Maintain a constant body temperature (warm-blooded)

• Reproduce by laying eggs

• Have feathers

• Most can fly

• Have a beak

Birds

The Vertebrates

• Don’t regulate body temperature (cold-blooded)

• Tough scaly skin

• Most lay eggs with leathery

shells

Reptiles

The Vertebrates

• Don’t regulate body temperature (cold-blooded)

• Lay eggs in water

• Life cycle involves transformation from aquatic larvae to terrestrial adult

• Can respire through porous skin

Amphibians

The Vertebrates

• A collection of four distantly related groups

• Breathe underwater using internal gills for gas exchange

• Body covered with scales

• Most don’t regulate body temperature (cold-blooded)

Fish

The Vertebrates

Activity 1: Guess Zoo• Get into groups of 6 - 8

• Take a species card - DO NOT LOOK AT IT!

• Hold the card on your head for the rest of your group to see

• Take turns to ask Yes or No Questions to work out which animal you are

• Ask questions based on classification – e.g. do I have cold blood?

Note: Asking if you are a mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish is against the rules!

Vertebrates

Activity 2: Insect classification

All insects have:• An external skeleton• A body split into three segments – head, thorax and abdomen• Six jointed legs, one pair on each body segment• Antennae

Invertebrates

Insects are probably the most successful of all invertebrates.

Activity 2: Insect classification

Most insects have:• 2 or 4 wings for all or part of their life• Compound eyes

Invertebrates

Activity 2: Insect classification

1. Use a computer to research the following insect orders:

Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Odonata

2. Using www.ARKive.org for inspiration, draw a typical species of 1 or 2 of these groups on A3 paper

3. Label the diagram with the defining features of the insect order it belongs to

Invertebrates

Orthoptera - Grasshoppers and crickets

Incomplete metamorphosis

Stridulation – rubbing wings/legs/abdomen to create sound

Wings folded over abdomen

Ears in legs or abdomen

Large eyes

Ovipositor

Discussion questions

• Why do we classify organisms?

• What are the defining characteristics of mammals?

• What are the defining characteristics of insects?