1. TAXIS – Arrangement NOMOS - Method
Taxonomy
TAXIS – Arrangement
NOMOS - Method

2. Taxonomy is….
The science or discipline of classifying organisms and assigning each organism a universally accepted name.

3. Why Classify?
To study the diversity of life, biologists use a classification system to name organisms and group them in a logical manner.
When taxonomists classify organisms, they organize them into groups that have biological significance.

4. Assigning Scientific Names
Aristotle
Assigning Scientific Names
Greek philosopher who was the first to classify or group living things.
He classified organisms into two groups:
Plants and Animals
He subdivided those groups as well.
Plants were subdivided into: Herbs, Shrubs and Trees
Animals were subdivided based on their habitat and physical characteristics

5. Assigning Scientific Names
Carl Linnaeus
Assigning Scientific Names
A Swedish botanist developed Binomial Nomenclature, a two-word naming system for naming all species on earth.
It is based on physical and structural similarities
Still used today

7. Common Names vs. Scientific Names
Common Names can be confusing one organism can have many different names
The Cougar is also known as a: Puma, Mountain Lion or Catamount
Each organism only has ONE scientific name (species name)
No matter where you are in the world the Cougar is Puma concolor

8. Why does everything have a weird name in Biology?
Everything in science is named using Latin.
Why?
Latin is a dead language and won’t change meanings with slang or invention.

9. 4 Reasons for using Latin
dead language and will not change
not misleading like a common name
more descriptive
basis for many other languages; English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese

10. Binomial Nomenclature
Each organism has a name consisting of two words Examples: Homo sapiens Tyto alba
Common Names:
HUMAN
Barn Owl

11. Binomial Nomenclature
Homo sapiens Tyto alba
The first part of the scientific name is the genus. This word is always written first and the first letter is capitalized. It appears in italics or is underlined.

12. It appears in italics or is underlined.
Binomial Nomenclature
Homo sapiens Tyto alba
The second part of the scientific name is the specific epithet or species name. This word is always written second and the first letter is lower-case.
It appears in italics or is underlined.

14. The 8 Levels of Classification
They are, from largest to smallest
Domain (this is a relatively new level separates Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota)
Kingdom (separates plants from animals)
Phylum (separates into major groups within the Kingdom; plural: phyla)
Class (breaks Phyla down into smaller groups)
Order (even more specific)
Family (very similar characteristics)
Genus (reproductive grouping)
Species (most specific)

15. Come Did King Phillip Over For Good Soup Domain Kingdom Phylum Class
Order
For
Family
Good
Genus
Soup
Species

16. 8 levels of Classification
Mrs. Endsley vs. Barn Owl
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Primates
Family:
Hominidae
Genus:
Homo
Species:
H. sapiens
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Strigiformes
Family:
Tytonidae
Genus:
Tyto
Species:
T. alba

17. THINKING CRITICALLY Cat Wolf Fly Organism Kingdom Animalia Phylum
What are the kingdom and class of Musca domestica?
From the table, which 2 animals are most closely related?
3. At what classification level does the evolutionary relationship between cats and wolves diverge (become different)?
Organism
Cat
Wolf
Fly
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Arthropoda
Class
Mammalia
Insecta
Order
Carnivora
Diptera
Family
Felidae
Canidae
Muscidae
Genus
Felis
Canis
Musca
Species
F. domesticus
C. lupus
M. domestica
Have students study this chart. The next slide lists three questions to answer using this chart. You may have to advance to the next slide, let students read the question and then come back to the chart so they can find the answer.

18. THINKING CRITICALLY What are the kingdom and class of Musca domestica?
From the table, which 2 animals are most closely related?
3. At what classification level does the evolutionary relationship between cats and wolves diverge (become different)?
Animal; insect
Cat and Wolf
Organism
Cat
Wolf
Fly
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Arthropoda
Class
Mammalia
Insecta
Order
Carnivora
Diptera
Family
Felidae
Canidae
Muscidae
Genus
Felis
Canis
Musca
Species
F. domesticus
C. lupus
M. domestica
Have students study this chart. The next slide lists three questions to answer using this chart. You may have to advance to the next slide, let students read the question and then come back to the chart so they can find the answer.
Family Level

19. THINKING CRITICALLY What are the kingdom and class of Musca domestica?
From the table, which 2 animals are most closely related?
3. At what classification level does the evolutionary relationship between cats and wolves diverge (become different)?c
Animal; insect
Cat and Wolf
Family Level