R

A B

M
F B
Learning objectives
 o rd A lert!
Keyw

Classification
The millions of types of living things can be organized into
categories, where we group together organisms with similar
features. This is called the classification system.
 Classification
ng
Learni
y
Activit

Think of all your clothes. Dump them into the middle of your room
and sort them into the following groups

Divide each
Divide the
group into
clothes into
three more
two groups.
groups.

Discuss what is
happening to the
clothes in each group as
you continue.
Classification and the 5 kingdoms

Learning objectives

• To understand the main classification

systems
• To understand why some organisms are
difficult to classify
• To know the different characteristics of
arthropods
 Grouping organisms

• All organisms are • Kingdom

classified into a • Phylum
number of different • Class
groups... • Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
 KINGDOM Many organisms Few features in
common

Phylum (Phyla)

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species One type of Nearly all features

organism the same

As we move down towards species, there are fewer organisms within each group and they share
more similarities (more closely related).
Seven groupings:

Kingdom
Animalia – heterotrophic,
multicellular organisms • KINGS
Phylum
Chordata – animals with backbone
• PLAY
Class
Mammalia – homoiothermic, hair,
mammary glands
• CHESS
Order
Perissodactyla – hooves made
from odd number of toes
• ON
Family
Equidae – horse-like • FIRM
Genus
Equus – horses, asses and zebras • GREEN
Species
Burchelli (common zebra) • SURFBOARDS

Come up with your own pneumonic to help you remember.

 Importance of classification
• Evolutionary relationships displayed using
evolutionary trees
• Show close
relationships
between animals
and their common
ancestors.
• This one suggests
whales are
closely related to
hippos.
Difficulties in classifying organisms

• Living things are on a continuous spectrum

• They show different stages of evolution
 • Produces milk for its
young
• Which group of animals
does this?
• It lays eggs and does not
give birth to live young
• Which group of animals
• It produces venom
does this?
• Which group of animals
does this?
 Difficulties in classifying organisms
• The platypus represents a stage in evolution when
our mammal ancestors still laid eggs
• And unlike most mammals who have lost their
reptilian features, the platypus has retained its ability
to produce venom in the spurs of its hind legs.

• Living things are at different

stages of evolution which can
make it difficult to place
organisms into distinct groups!
 Importance of classification

• Platypus showed evolutionary Evolution- how are the

organisms related
relationships- placed in mammalian
group because it shows a stage in
evolution of mammals.

• Whales and dolphins are also mammals

but have been placed in a separate order Ecological- relationships
in ecosystems/habitats
• Order Cetacea- grouping that identifies
mammals that all live and feed in water.
• So we also see ecological relationships.
 Binomial System
ng
Learni
y
Activit

When the teacher registers students there might be two Mohammed's’ in

the room. To be more specific the teacher might say, “Mohammed Abdulla”.
Using two names makes it much easier to identify something.
 Naming

Latin Name Common names

γάτα
Felis catus kat
gato
Chat
猫
gatto
Cat
 The binomial system
• Every organism has two Latin names – the name
of its genus followed by the name of its species.
• The genus has a capital letter and the species a
small letter. The Genus can be shortened e.g.
Calluna vulgaris can be shortened to C. vulgaris
• In typed text, the Latin name is written in italics
and in hand written notes, it is underlined.
Why is it important?
 Why is it important?
• Allow people throughout the world to communicate unambiguously about
animal species.
• Zoologists try to avoid naming the same thing more than once, so that
every scientific name is unique.
• For example, if bluegill sunfish are given the scientific name Lepomis
macrochirus, no other animal species can be given the same name.
• So, if you are a Russian scientist studying relatives of sunfish and you
want to discuss bluegill sunfish with a Canadian researcher, you both use
the scientific name and know exactly what the other is talking about.

Latin Name Common names

γάτα
Felis catus kat
gato
Chat
猫
gatto
Cat
The binomial system gives organisms a two word
name showing the genus and species

Genus species Genus species Genus species

Panthera leo Panthera tigris Panthera pardus

 Binomial System
e ssm ent
Ass y
Activit

Complete the table below to test your binomial system skills!

Incorrect Corrected Explanation

corvus monedula
Homo sapiens
Camelus
Dromedarius
arnebia
hispidissima
Oryx Leucoryx
 sm e nt

Exam Play
Asse s
y
Activit

A cladogram shows how organisms are related based on their DNA.

The one below shows that humans are more closely related to mice
(both mammals). Than humans are to birds, amphibians or reptiles.
The more recent the evolution the more DNA we have in common.

Homework
Try and produce a
cladogram of biscuits/
candy and explain how
some are more closely
related than others!
 ABC quiz
The level of hierarchy just below phylum is
a) Family
b) Class
c) Order
The fungi kingdom is described as…
A) Prokaryotic and multicellular
B) Cell wall of cellulose with seeds
C) Spores and cell wall of chitin
 The final group/classification of living
things…
A) Phylum
B) Kingdom
C) Species
Main disadvantage of using common names
for species
A) Names may change or may be applied to
more than one species
B) One name does not apply universally
C) All of the above
Which of the following is a correct scientific
name for an organism?
A) Canis lupis
B) saccharum
C) Grant's gazelle
 The living world is divided into:
A)Two kingdoms
B)Three Kingdoms
C)Five kingdoms
Which of the following would you expect
to be most closely related?
A) two species in the same genus
B) two species in different phyla
C) two species in different genera in the same
family