Download Levels of Classification

Levels of Classification Domain Order

Kingdom Phylum Class Family Genus Species

Classification  Classification is the grouping of things based on similar

characteristics.  Putting living things into groups makes it easier to study

them.  Classification begins with a broad group that is divided into

more specific groups.  Taxonomy is the study of how things are organized.

Levels of Classification  Domain – highest level  Contains the greatest number of organisms

 3 Domains:  Bacteria  Archae  Eukarya

Domain Bacteria  Prokaryotes – no defined nucleus  Two basic types:  Cyanobacteria – (blue green algae) thought to be the first photosynthetic organism on Earth that helped to put O2 in the atmosphere  Heterotrophic bacteria- bacteria that get energy from other organisms

Domain Archaebacteria  Extremophiles  Found in deep ocean vents – feed off of sulfur compounds –

chemosynthesis  Halophiles – live in salty environments

 Thermophiles – live in hot area  Methanogens – produce methane in anoxic conditions

Domain Eukarya  Divided into 4 kingdoms (division of domain)  Animalia (Animal)  Plantae (Plant)  Fungus  Protist

How are organisms organized into domains and kingdoms?  Cell type  Ability to make food  Number of cells in body

Animals  Eukaryote  Heterotroph  Multicellular

Plants  Eukaryotes  Autotrophs  Multicellular

Fungi  Eukaryotes  Most are multicellular  Some unicellular  Heterotrophs – feed by absorbing nutrients from dead or

decaying organisms.  Examples - mushrooms

Protists  Any eukaryote that cannot be classified as an animal, plant,

or fungi.  Some autotrophs / some heterotrophs  Most unicellular (amoeba)  Some multicellular (seaweed)

Classification Chart Domain/ Kingdom Bacteria Archaea Eukarya

Animals Plants Fungi Protists

Cell Type

How it Obtains Food

Number of Cells

Special Info

Classification Chart Domain/ Kingdom

Cell Type

How it Obtains Food

Number of Cells

Special Info

Bacteria

Prokaryote

Auto/heterotroph

unicellular

Archaea

Prokaryote

Auto/heterotroph

unicellular

Extreme environments

Eukarya

Eukaryote

Animals

Eukaryote

Heterotrophs

Multicellular

Diverse environments

Plants

Eukaryote

Autotrophs

Multicellular

Flowering & non-flowering

Fungi

Eukaryote

Heterotrophs

Most are multicellular

Absorb nutrients

Protists

Eukaryote

Auto/heterotrophs Uni/multicellula Odds & ends r group

Why do biologists classify organisms?  Classification makes it easier to study organisms  Taxonomy – the study of how organisms are organized.

What are the levels of classification?  Domain – broadest and contains the most different types of organisms.  Kingdom  Phylum  Class  Order  Family  Genus  Species – most specific and contains only one specific organism

Classification of Paddlefish  Domain: Eukarya  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Actinopterygii  Order: Acipenseriformes  Family: Polyodontidae  Genus: Polyodon  Species: spathula

Classification of Paddlefish  Domain: Eukaryota

Polyodon spathula is classified in the Domain Eukaryota because it has a true nucleus as well as membrane-bound organelles.

 Kingdom: Animalia

Polyodon spathula are eukaryotic multicellular organisms that are heterotrophs. They are also motile (swim) and lack cell walls.

 Phylum: Chordata

These American Paddlefish have bilateral symmetry, segmented bodies, three germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm), a coelom, a complete digestive tract, and have the five unique characteristics to the Chordates--notochord; dorsal, tubular nerve chord; pharyngeal pouches, endostyle, and postanal tail.

Classification of Paddlefish  Class: Actinopterygii

This particular class contains ray-finned fishes.  Order: Acipenseriformes

This Order contains primitive bony fish that have a cartilaginous skeleton, a rostrum (or snout), a ventrally located mouth, and a heterocercal tail fin.  Family: Polyodontidae

The Polyodontidae Family consists of freshwater fish that have many fossil relatives. A distinctive feature in this Family is their elongated rostrums.

Classification of Paddlefish  Genus: Polyodon

Polyodon is Greek for 'many toothed' referring to their hundreds of bony, comb-like protrusions along their gill arch called gill rakers; these gill rakers are specially adapted to help them filter feed for plankton.  Species: Polyodon spathula (P. spathula)

The word spathula refers to the paddle-like shape of the Paddlefish's rostrum.

Comparison of Classifications of Different Organisms Common Name

Spoonbill Catfish

Human

Bobcat

Domain

Eukarya

Eukarya

Eukarya

Kingdom

Animalia

Animalia

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Chordata

Chordata

Class

Actinopterogii

Mammalia

Mammalia

Order

Acipenseriformes

Primates

Carnivora

Family

Polydontidae

Hominidae

Felidae

Genus

Polyodon

Homo

Lynx

Species

Polyodon spathula Homo sapiens

Lynx rufus

Naming Organisms  Carolus Linnaeus the naming system used today.  Binomial nomenclature – each organism is given a unique, two-part

scientific name.  First word in name is the genus. It’s capitalized.  Second word in the name is the species. It is lowercase.  When typed, it is italicized and when handwritten it is underlined.  Sometimes the genus is written just using the first letter of the

genus. Example: Polyodon spathula is the same as P. spathula

Why use scientific names?  Scientific names are not the same as common names.  Common names for an organism may vary from region to

region, whereas scientific names, are always the same no matter where you are.

Taxonomic Key  A tool used to help identify an organism.  Paired statements describe characteristics.

Identify An Apple