1. Classification

2. What is Classification? Biologists want to better understand organisms so they organize them. Classification = the grouping of objects or information based on similarities. Taxonomy = the branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their different characteristics.

3. Aristotle’s Classification Animals were classified by where they lived. – Land dwellers – Water dwellers – Air dwellers Plants were classified as: – Herbs – Shrubs – Trees

4. Carolus Linnaeus Swedish naturalist formulated a system called Binomial Nomenclature. – Two word naming system (all organisms given scientific names) – Consists of the genus & species – Latin Words / Italicized – Ex: Man = Homo (genus) sapien (species) Bobcat = Lynx (genus) rufus (species)

5. How Living Things are Classified Today The smallest taxon is species. – Organisms that look alike and successfully interbreed belong to the same species. The next largest taxon is a genus. – A group of similar species that have similar features and are closely related.

6. Taxonomy Domain – Consists of one or more kingdoms Kingdom – Taxon of similar phyla Phylum – Taxon of similar classes Class – Taxon of similar orders Order – Taxon of similar families Family – Consists of a group of similar genera Genus Species Most Broad Taxon Most Specific Taxon

8. Example: Man Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata (backbone-like structure) Class : Mammalia (female produce milk for their young) Order : Primate (stand upright) Family : Hominidae (manlike structure) Genus : Homo (true man) Species : sapien (wise)

10. Remainder of Class Be on task!! The information you record today will be used (tentative) to build a cladogram (future topic) Make sure to research thoroughly to get the best information You’ll be using this in the future!