Diversity of life forms Taxonomy
Taxonomy The science of classifying living organisms into different categories. Scientists classify species based on common characteristics or DNA.
Most common classification system Domain Kingdoms Phyla Classes Orders Families Genera Species
Domains Three domains Archaea and bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes (no nucleus (brain)) Eukarya are more complex and have a nucleus (Human)
Kingdoms (4) Protists : Unicellular. Everything that is not an animal, plant or fungus. Fungi : Unicellular or multicellular. Fungi feed by decomposing living or non-living matter (mineral) Plants : Multicellular. Almost always contain chlorophyll.(colour green and transform energy from the sun into food) Animals : Multicellular Unicellular organisms only visible under a microscope
Other levels of classification Phylum (mollusks, worms, etc) Class (Fish, amphibians, reptiles, bird,etc) Order (Bats, primates, rodents,etc) Family Genus Species
Taxonomic key (Dichotomous key) It is a tool that helps identify the group that a species belongs to. http://www.mammothmemory.net/biology/characteristics-and- classifications/dichotomous-keys/dichotomous-keys.html Dichotomous means divided into two parts, a reference to the number of choices available at each stage.