Classification of Living Organisms Assignment

Linnaean Taxonomy Chart

Complete the chart by researching online to fill in the missing classification boxes. Some have
been filled in for you to guide you along the way. You don’t have to use this chart. You can make
your own if you would like.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata

Class Aves

Apodiformes/Anseriformes/ Struthionifor
Order
Falconiformes/Pelecaniformes mes
Anatid Falconi Peleca Struthion
Family Trochilidae
ae dae nidae dae
Archiloc
Genus
hus
Anas Falco Pelecanus Struthio

A.
Colubris F. newtoni P. thagus
Species platyrhynchos S. camelus

Cladogram
Create your cladogram below by using the birds listed in the boxes and lines provided. You will
need to arrange the boxes and lines how you best feel they should go. You may delete any extra
lines you don’t need. Remember, there is no wrong way to make a cladogram. However, you
must be able to explain why you have grouped them in such a way.
Here’s a reminder of how a cladogram can look:

Pelican Ostrich
Falcon
Hummingbird
Duck

Birds

Questions:
Using what you have learned in the lesson and the research assignment, answer the following
questions in complete sentences.
1. Describe the physical traits your birds had in common with one another in your
taxonomy chart. Break down your descriptions by taxa (kingdom, phylum, class,
order…).
 Animalia - All birds have feathers that provide some kind of insulation, regulating
their body temperature, beak
 Chordata - Notochord (support for their body), dorsal nerve cord
 Aves – laying hard-shell eggs, a four-chambered heart

2. Explain the positions of each species in your cladogram. Why did you place each of your
animals in those positions?
In this cladogram, I grouped hummingbirds and ducks together because they are both
small birds with specialized beaks for feeding. Then I grouped Falcons next because they
have similar hunting adaptations, such as sharp talons and strong beaks. Pelicans came
next because they also have specialized beaks for feeding, but they are much larger and
more distinctive than those of hummingbirds and ducks. Finally, ostriches were placed at
the bottom because they are flightless birds with different body shapes and adaptations
than the other birds in my cladogram.

3. Which was more difficult to make, the taxonomy chart or the cladogram? Explain your
answer.
I had a harder time with the cladogram. It took me a while because I didn’t have an idea
of how am I going to group them and it took me a while to come with something up. It
wasn’t that hard to search things up and it took me even less long because of my past
knowledge.