• Taxonomy: Branch of biology that groups all life according to their characteristics and history

• All life on earth is placed into 1 of 6 kingdoms:– Eubacteria– Archaea– Protista– Fungi– Plantae– Animalia

prokaryotes

eukaryotes

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

– 1st word: Genus (broad)

– 2nd word: Species (specific)

Homo ergaster Homo erectus

Homo habilis Homo sapiens

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

– 1st word: Genus (broad)

– 2nd word: Species (specific)

• Example: House cat– Genus: Felis– Species: catus

Felis catus

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

– 1st word: Genus (broad)

– 2nd word: Species (specific)

• Example: House cat– Genus: Felis– Species: catus

Is a coyote really called Eatius birdius?

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

– 1st word: Genus (broad)

– 2nd word: Species (specific)

• Example: House cat– Genus: Felis– Species: catus

Canis latrans

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

– 1st word: Genus (broad)

– 2nd word: Species (specific)

• Example: House cat– Genus: Felis– Species: catus

Is a roadrunner really called Acceleratti incredibilis?

• Developed classification system based on physical features

• Many rules still used today– Binomial

Nomenclature: System of giving every organism 2 names

– 1st word: Genus (broad)

– 2nd word: Species (specific)

• Example: House cat– Genus: Felis– Species: catus

Geococcyx californianus

• When Writing:– Genus capitalized– species lowercase– Underlined entirely

Ex: Homo sapiens

• When Typing:– Same, except use italics

Ex: Homo sapiens

• Common names can be misleading

Are sea horses really horses?

• Common names can be misleading

Are jellyfish made of jelly?

Are jellyfish even fish?

• Common names can be misleading

Are sea cucumbers edible fruit?

• Common names vary from region to region

Robin Robin

United States England

Problem: They are two different species.

• Common names vary from region to region

Cougar Puma Mountain lion

Problem: Cougars, pumas, and mountain lions are the same species. They are just called different names in different parts of the world.

Solution: A scientist would simply call these Puma concolor regardless of where they lived.

• 7 individual levels (taxa) used to classify organisms

Kingdom (broadest)

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species (specific)

• Allows relationships to be clearly seen

KingsPlayChessOnFine GlassSurfaces

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Kingdom

The more levels in common...the more related the species.

Allows relationships to be seen!

Which two organisms are most related to one another?

Killer Whale

K = Animals

P = Chordata

C = Mammals

O = Cetacea

F = Delphinidae

G = Orcinus

S = orca

Red Wolf

K = Animals

P = Chordata

C = Mammals

O = Carnivora

F = Canidae

G = Canis

S = vulpes

Polar Bear

K = Animals

P = Chordata

C = Mammals

O = Carnivora

F = Ursidae

G = Ursus

S = arctos

Using a dichotomous

key

What is this item?

Using a dichotomous

key

What is this item?

Review1) Who created the classification system used today?2) Name the 6 kingdoms of life.3) Which kingdom(s) are prokaryotic?4) Which kingdom(s) may be unicellular?5) Which kingdom(s) are bacteria?6) Which two taxa make up an organisms binomial name?7) Place the 7 levels of taxonomy in order from largest to

smallest.8) Name the 7 human taxa, from largest to smallest.