This document discusses taxonomy and the classification of organisms. It explains that taxonomy involves assigning organisms to groups based on their similarities and differences and looking at their relationships. The key levels of taxonomy are discussed from broadest (kingdom) to most specific (species). Examples are provided to illustrate how organisms receive their scientific names using the binomial system of genus and species. The document also outlines some important historical figures involved in developing taxonomy, such as Aristotle, Linnaeus, and Haeckel.

1. Taxonomy
Natures filing system?

2. Learning Outcomes
• Define the term “taxonomy”
• List the different levels of taxonomy in
order
• Name 4 different species using their full
taxonomic name
• Relate species differences to selective
processes (previous session!)

3. Why classify?
• Helps humans to make sense of the
abundant biological diversity that
exists in nature.
• Enables us to categorise what is out
there!

4. What is Taxonomy?
• Science of naming organisms and assigning
them to groups
• Looks at different and common species
• Looks at relationships of
species at different levels
- general
- specialised

5. Why is Taxonomy Useful?
• Allows us to identify new species!
• Taxonomists spend their time
searching for previously unknown
organisms, determining their
relationships to known organisms,
and giving them names.
• Without classification, this would not
be possible.

6. So Who is Involved?

7. Aristotle
• Realised that you had to
observe various
characteristics, not just one
• Considered to be 1st person
to group organisms in ways
that made sense!
• Involved in the terms
“substance”, “species” and
“genus”

8. Ernst Haeckle
• Discovered, described
and named thousands of
new species
• Mapped a genealogical
tree relating all life forms
• Coined many terms
including phylum,
phylogeny, ecology and
the kingdom Protista

9. Carolus Linnaeus
• Divised system for clear and
easy descriptions of plants,
animals and minerals
• Classified organisms using
a two part latin name –
binomial classification
• System still used by
scientists today!

10. The Seven Levels
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
• Kings
• Play
• Chess
• Only
• For
• Good
• Sports!

11. Example: Grizzly Bear!

12. Kingdom
• The starting point of species classification
• Divided into 5 kingdoms
The 5 kingdoms are :
• Monera (Bacteria)
• Protocista (Protozoa)
• Fungi (Mushrooms, Mould)
• Plantae (Ferns, Herbs, Tres)
• Animalia (Fish, Birds, Insects)

13. Phylum
• Each kingdom is subdivided into
smaller, more specific groups called
phyla.
• Groups with general common
features (shells, legs, spine)
e.g. birds, mammals, fish (spine)
snails, limpets, lobsters (shells)

14. Class
• Each phylum is subdivided into
smaller groups called classes.
• Divides groups into general common
features
e.g. Mammals – bears, mice,
elephants, dolphins
• Base of most fossil studies!

15. Order
• Each class is subdivided into smaller
groups called orders.
• Groups of individuals with a major
similar quality
e.g. Carnivora = cats, dogs, weasels
= meat eaters!!!

16. Family
• Each order is subdivided into smaller
groups called families.
• Major groups of similar organisms
E.g. Felidae = cats

17. Genus
• Each family is subdivided into smaller
groups called genera.
• Group of species very closely related
E.g. Sciurus = Squirrels

18. Species
• Each genus is subdivided into smaller
groups called species.
• Group of similar individuals which can
breed freely, but not successfully with
other species (hence sub-species).
• The species is the most specific level of
classification.

19. In General
The way the kingdom is broken down is
as follows:
• A number of species make up a genus.
• A number of genera make up a family.
• A number of families make up an order.
• A number of orders make up a class.
• A number of classes make up a phylum.
• A number of phyla make up a kingdom.

20. Scientific Names
• The scientific name of an organism
contains two parts
- the name of the genus and
- the name of the species.
• Binomial naming – Linnaeus!

21. Writing Scientific Names
The rules for writing scientific names:
• CAPITALIZE the first letter of the genus name.
• Do not capitalize the species name.
• Both names must be underlined or italicized.
• Example: human = Homo sapiens

22. Recognising the groups
• Kingdom: Always starts with a capital
letter (e.g. Animalia)
• Phylum: Always starts with a capital
letter (e.g. Chordata)
• Class: Always starts with a capital
letter (e.g. Mammalia)
• Order: Always starts with a capital
letter (e.g. Rodentia)

23. Recognising the groups
• Family: Always end in “ae”
(e.g. Sciurinae)
• Genus: Always starts with a capital
letter and in italics (e.g. Sciurus)
• Species: ALWAYS lower case and
italics!!! (e.g. vulgaris)

24. Recognising the Groups!
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
• Animalia
• Chordata
• Mammalia
• Rodentia
• Sciurinae
• Sciurus
• vulgaris

26. Example 1: A Dog
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Canidae
• Genus: Canis
• Species: familiaris

27. Example 2: A Lion
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Felidae
• Genus: Panthera
• Species: leo

28. Example 3: A Dandelion
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Class: Anthophyta
• Order: Asterales
• Family: Compositae
• Genus: Taraxacum
• Species: officinale

29. Over to You!
Using the information you have
just gained…
• Organize your sets of cards into order
of the seven taxonomic levels
• As a minimum you should get
Kingdom, Family, Genus and Species
• Once you have done this, try and
work out what your organism is!

30. Recap!
• Taxonomy is the classification of all
organisms
• It allows us to identify new species using
common features
• Carolus Linnaeus is the founder of the
binomial system, which we use today
• There are seven taxonomic levels
• Each level becomes more specialised as
you move down