CLASSIFICATION
Classification The purpose of classification is to systematically catalog organisms in ways that show their relationship to one another. Systematics is the study of the diversity of organisms and how they are related. Taxonomy is the science of identifying, classifying and naming organisms.
Read only This is the diversification of a species into different lines as they adapt to new ecological niches and ultimately evolves into distinct species. Write Natural selection is the principle mechanism driving evolution.
Over 200 years ago, Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus invented a way of naming organisms – the system of binomial nomenclature. This two-part name consists of the genus and specific epithet (when added to the genus it becomes species). The genus (always capitalized) is a group of very similar organisms related by common descendants and sharing similar traits.
The specific epithet (always lower case) is a unique group within a genus who share the same traits and can successfully reproduce only with members of the same species. The scientific name is always underlined if written or italicized if typed.
SN are always in Latin in order to be universal SN are always in Latin in order to be universal. The Latin names are usually descriptive: habitat (water tupelo – Nyssa aquatica) physical traits (red maple - Acer rubra) geographic location (gray squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis) use (sugar maple - Acer saccharum) in commemoration (desert cottontail - Sylvilagus auduboni)
Taxonomists group similar species together in a genus. Similar genera (plural of genus) are grouped in a family. Similar families are grouped in an order. Similar orders are grouped in a class. Similar classes are grouped in a phylum. Similar phyla (plural of phylum) are grouped in a kingdom “Kings Play Chess On Fine Gold Stands.”
Human Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Primates Family Hominidae Genus Homo Species sapiens
Dichotomous Key A dichotomous key is a tool that can be used to identify organisms in a group through a process of answering yes/no questions about the organism.
Urocyon ciniereoargenteus Vulpes vulpes Urocyon ciniereoargenteus Canis rufus Canis latrans