1. Taxonomy Chapter 18
Regular Biology Waggy

2. Objectives 1. Discuss the history of Taxonomy
2. List the common levels of modern Taxonomy
3. List the characteristics of the three domains & the 6 Kingdoms
4. Discuss the evidence that modern biologists use in classifying organisms
5. Define Cladistics, phylogenetics and dichotomous keys

3. What is Taxonomy?
Classification is the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities
Taxonomy is also known as classification
Taxonomists are scientists that identify & name organisms

4. Why Do we Need a Taxonomic System?
There are 13 billion known species of organisms
This is only 5% of all organisms that ever lived!
New organisms are still being found and identified

5. Accurately & uniformly names organisms
Prevents misnomers (misnaming) such as starfish & jellyfish that aren't really fish
Uses same language (Latin or some Greek) for all names
Sea”horse”??

6. Confusion in Using Different Languages for Names

7. Latin Names are Understood by all Taxonomists

8. History of Taxonomy 2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first taxonomist
Aristotle divided organisms into plants & animals
He subdivided them by their habitat ---land, sea, or air dwellers

9. John Ray, a botanist, was the first to use Latin for naming
His names were very long descriptions telling everything about the plant

10. Carolus Linnaeus 1707 – 1778
18th century taxonomist
Classified organisms by their structure
Developed naming system still used today

11. Called the “Father of Taxonomy”
Developed the modern system of naming known as binomial nomenclature
Two-word name (Genus & species)

12. Rules for Using binomial nomenclature
Turdus migratorius
Latin or Greek
Italicized in print
Genus species
Underline when writing
Capitalize Genus, but NOT species
American Robin