Classification / Analogy In order to develop a better understanding of classification, an analogy was created to help explain the breakdown of the levels. Please be advised that this analogy works well for our purposes, but has it

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Classification / AnalogyIn order to develop a
better understanding of classification, an
analogy was created to help explain the breakdown
of the levels. Please be advised that this
analogy works well for our purposes, but has its
limitations. These limitations will be
discussed at the end of the slide show. Please
do not look deeper into the analogy until told to
do so.
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The 7 levels of classification are as
followsKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenus
species
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How the analogy works

• Kingdom - planet
• Phylum - continent
• Class - country
• Order - state (providence)
• Family - city
• Genus - neighborhood
• species - house

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The levels of classification work as one moves up
from the most specific to the least specific.
That is to say that the very most specific
species (location) is found in the species
(house) level.
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How to scientifically write the name of an
organism?

• In order to appropriately write the name of an
  organism, scientists use what is known as
  scientific nomenclature.
• The name of organism is written with its Genus
  and species.
• Example Carcharodon carcharias refers to the
  great white shark.
• Notice these key points of scientific
  nomenclature
• words are in the Latin language (the root of all
  languages)
• Genus is capitalized
• species is not capitalized
• both words are italized

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Why do we use scientific nomenclature?

• The common names we use today are too general and
  vague to pin-point one specific organism.
• Example The term shark could mean any number
  of sharks in the ocean. A white shark could be a
  Great White or a Mako shark, depending on where
  in the world the name is used. Only the term
  Carcharodon carcharias absolutely refers to a
  very specific species of shark.