Dichotomous Key Classification Taxonomy Linnaeus Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Common name Scientific name Binomial nomenclature

Taxonomy is the science of grouping and naming organisms. Classification the grouping of information or objects based on similarities.

Why use a dead language? We only know about a fraction of the organisms that exist or have existed on Earth. Taxonomists give a unique scientific name to each species they know about whether it’s alive today or extinct. The scientific name comes from one of two “dead” languages – Latin or ancient Greek.

Devil Cat

Ghost Cat

Mountain Lion

Screaming Cat

Puma

Florida Panther

Cougar

How many common names do you think we have for the animal shown on the previous 7 slides?? 50!!! Common names vary according to region. Soooo……why use a scientific name?

a two name system for writing scientific names. The genus name is written first (always Capitalized). The species name is written second (never capitalized). Both words are italicized if typed or underlined if hand written. Example: Felis concolor or F. concolor Which is the genus? The species? Binomial Nomenclature

"Formal" scientific names should have a third part, the authority. The authority is not italicized or underlined. The authority is written as an abbreviation of the last name of the person responsible for naming the organism. Since Carolus Linnaeus was the first person to name many plants, the L. for Linnaeus is very common in plant scientific names. An example is Quercus alba L.

A key is a device for easily and quickly identifying an unknown organism. The dichotomous key is the most widely used type in biological sciences. The user is presented with a sequence of choices between two statements, couplets, based on characteristics of the organism. By always making the correct choice, the name of the organism will be revealed. The Dichotomous Key

1. A. one pair of wings B. Two pairs of wings

The major classification levels, from most general to most specific (several of these have subdivisions) A group at any level is a taxon.

Kingdoms are divided into groups called phyla Phyla are subdivided into classes Classes are subdivided into orders Orders are subdivided into families Families are divided into genera (genus) Genera contain closely related species Species is unique Categories within Kingdoms

Your assignment (if you choose to accept it…which is required!!!) - you need to get a yellow book and share! Chapter 1….. 1.Write the names of the kingdoms that we know. 2.What does each kingdom contain? 3.Complete the chart on the next slide (on your own paper)

Common Name KingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies Cats Rabbits Rat Dogs Hamster Chinchilla Ferret Guinea Pig