Taxonomy (Naming and Grouping)
Why is a naming system important? Have you seen a… Florida panther? Cougar? Mountain lion? Catamount? Puma? They are all the SAME animal! Their difference is their regional “common name”
The origins of taxonomy Taxonomy → grouping and naming of organisms – to understand the variety of life – to avoid confusion of regional names Carl (Carolus) Linnaeus ( ) – developed a binomial nomenclature (2-part name), now called the scientific name – developed a 7-level (taxon) classification (domain), kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species – D readed K ing P hilip C ame O ver F or G reat S paghetti – D id K ing P hilip C ome O ver F rom G lorious S pain? – D umb K ids P laying C hicken O n F reeways G o S plat
The Three Domains (added in 1990) (…eukaryotes) (…”common” prokaryotes) (…“ancient” prokaryotes)
The scientific name is taken from the genus and species
Taxonomic groups Beginning with domain, each successive level of classification becomes more specific Members of a genus share more in common than members of a family Organisms within the same group have more in common with one another than those within the next largest group
Kingdoms and Domains BacteriaEukaryaArchaea BacteriaProtistaPlantaeFungiAnimalia The Three Domains The Six Kingdoms
What is a Cladogram? Cladogram → diagram that shows evolutionary relationships between organisms Helps scientists understand how one lineage broke away from another in the course of evolution
What is a Dichotomous Key? Dichotomous key → classification used to identify unknown organisms Based on visible similarities
Write Your Summary!