1. Classification of Living Things
Diversity of Life

2. What is classification?
Classification is the grouping of things according to characteristics
The science of classifying organisms is known as taxonomy

3. Early classification systems
Aristotle grouped animals according to the way they moved
John Ray was the first to use the term “species”

4. Binomial Nomenclature
Developed by Linnaeus
Two-name system
Each organism has a genus and a species name
First name (genus); second name (species)

5. What is a scientific name?
Combination of the genus and species name of an organism
Scientific names of organisms are always italicized or underlined:
(Genus is capitalized; species name is lower-case)

6. Seven classification groups of living things
Kingdom (Broadest)
Phylum
Class
Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species (specific)
King Phillip Came Over For Great Spaghetti

7. Let’s classify. . . Here is the classification for a Lion
Kingdom: Animalia (animal kingdom)
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (mammals)
Order: Carnivora (carnivores)
Family: Felidae (cats)
Genus: Panthera
Species: Panthera leo
Explain that you only italicize genus and species names. The species name is considered the entire genus and specific epithet (which is the name for the last part of the species name). You don’t need to tell them it is called the specific epithet, though. 7

9. Dichotomous keys What is a dichotomous key?
A step-by-step guide to identify an organism
Each step gives a choice of two descriptions.
The descriptions have to be opposites
Ex. Leaves round vs. leaves not round