1. CLASSIFICATION Chapter 17

2. What is Classification??  Classification is the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities.  Classification is also known as taxonomy.  A person who identifies and names organisms is known as a Taxonomist.

3. Why do we Classify Organisms?  To have accurate and universal names for organisms (regardless of what language you speak).  Prevents the mis-naming of organisms (such as starfish and jelly fish which are not really fish!!

4. History of Classification - Boring old people, yeah!!  Aristotle was the first official taxonomist 2000 years ago.  He divided organisms into two categories - plants and animals  He then subdivided them based on their habitat (land, sea, air),  And by their morphology (the way they look).

5. Problems with Aristotle's System  Species are not unchanging  Did not account for evolutionary relationships among organisms  Some organisms did not fit easily  Frogs live on land and in water

6. Carolus Linnaeus  18 th century taxonomist  Called the “Father of Taxonomy”  Based his classification system on observable characteristics.  Developed binomial nomenclature.

7. Binomial Nomenclature  Two-Part naming system.  First part Genus  Second part species  It is always in Latin  Capitalize Genus but NOT species  Italicize when typing; underline when writing.

8. Common name: Robin  Erithacus rubicula  Turdus migratorus

9. Common name: Black and Polar Bear Ursus americanus Ursus maritimus

10. Why not use common names?  Scientists avoid using common names because they are often not specific to a particular species and can be confusing.  Different countries (and different regions within countries) have different common names for the same organisms  Common names such as blue crab, redfish, and dolphin are successfully used in casual communication, and convey an immediate idea of what a particular animal or plant looks like.

11. Today’s Classification System  Still uses all the things Aristotle and Linnaeus brought to the table.  In addition, we now know about DNA!  DNA allows us to examine how closely related organisms are to one another.

12. Taxonomic Categories  Taxon (plural = taxa) is a category into which related organisms are placed.  There is a hierarchy of 8 groups (taxa) from broadest to most specific.  Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

13. DOMAIN

14. How to remember the order of the Taxa!  Dear  King  Phillip  Came  Over  For  Good  Soup!

15. Turn to page 489!  ACTIVITY: Classify a giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, completely from domain to species level by referring to Figure 17.4.

16. Answer to Activity:  Eukarya, Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Carnivora, Ursidae, Ailuropoda, melanoleuca