Taxonomy

1
Taxonomy

• And Classification

2
Definitions
Classificationthe grouping of living things
according to similar characteristics
Taxonomythe science of classification
3
Early Classification

• Aristotle was the first person to try true
  classification. He grouped animals by the way
  they moved
• Walkers
• Flyers
• Swimmers

4
More Early Classification

• John Raytried to classify all plants and animals
  in England. He looked at internal structures as
  well as behavior and appearance. He was the
  first to use the term species.
• Speciesa group of organisms that can interbreed
  and produce viable young (ones that can have
  their own young)

5
More Early Classification

• Carolus Linneaussimplified naming by developing
  binomial nomenclature. This two word system uses
  the genus and species together.
• He used Latin and we still do today. Why?? Its
  a dead language and will never change.

6
Binomial nomenclature

• Names should always be italicized, with the first
  word capitalized
• Our name is Homo sapiens.
• The cougar is also called the puma, mountain
  lion, catamount, Florida panther, and several
  other names. Its scientific name is Felis
  concolor.

7
Binomial nomenclature

• There are lots of other fun names
• Gorilla gorilla
• Iguana iguana
• Elephas maximus
• Ursus maritimus
• Boa constrictor

8
Modern Classification

• Classification today uses large internal and
  external structures, microscopic structures, and
  chemical makeup, including DNA.
• It does two jobs
• 1. group organisms by their basic characteristics
• 2. give a unique name to an organism

9
Modern Classification

• 7 major levels of classification
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species