Classification of Organisms

1. Classification of Organisms

2. Taxonomy: science concerned with the naming & classification of organisms. Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, is credited with the development of our modern method of classification called binomial nomenclature. (Genus, species) Kingdom-Phylum-Class-Order-Family-Genus-Species All organisms are divided into one of five kingdoms: 1.) Monera ~ bacterial organisms that lack a true nucleus in the cell and reproduce by fission (splitting apart). 2.) Protista ~ single-celled or microscopic animals, including algae 3.) Plantae ~ mutlicellular photosynthesizing organisms, higher plants, and multicellular algae 4.) Fungi ~ molds, yeast, & fungi 5.) Animalia ~ composed of vertebrates & invertebrates

3. *All animals we will study this year belong to the phylum Chordata. All members of this phylum have four distinctive characteristics: 1.) an embryonic notochord, which is usually replaced by the spinal cord 2.) a dorsal tubular nerve cord running down the back side 3.) pharyngeal or throat area gill slits 4.) a rear area tail *****(Although they possess these structures at some embryonic stage, these characteristics may be altered or disappear in later stages of life.)**

4. All animals we will look at belong to one of four classes: 1.) Mammalia: vertebrates that possess mammary glands, have a body that’s more or less covered in hair, and a well- developed brain. 2.) Reptilia: includes snakes, lizards, and turtles. Comprises cold-blooded vertebrates having lungs, an entirely bony skeleton, a body covered with scales or horny plates, and a heart with two atria and a single ventricle. 3.) Aves: class for birds. These are warm-blooded vertebrate animals with two legs, wings, feathers, and lay eggs. 4.) Osteichthyes: bony fish. This is a large group of vertebrate animals that live in water and have permanent gills for breathing, fins, and a body usually covered with scales.

5. The domestic dog would be classified as follows: Kingdom – Animalia (animal kingdom) Phylum – Chordata (animals w/ vertebrates) Class – Mammalia (animals that suckle young) Order – Carnivora (flesh or meat eaters) Family – Canidae (dog family including wolves, foxes, & coyotes) Genus – Canis (dogs) Species – familiaria (domestic dog)

6. Assignment: Using textbooks, computers, and your new knowledge of binomial nomenclature, find the complete classification of 5 different animals. (Be sure to include the classification from kingdom to species!) Websites to try: nlbif.eti.uva.nl/bis/index.ph animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site