Questions and Answers
Which taxonomic rank is more specific than order but less specific than genus?
Family
State the scientific names for the following organisms: Lions, Mangoes, Cockroaches, Humans, Tigers.
Lions - Panthera leo, Mangoes - Mangifera indica, Cockroaches - Blattella germanica, Humans - Homo sapiens, Tigers - Panthera tigris
Name the three domains and the five kingdoms.
Domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya; Kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Monera.
Who established the method of binomial nomenclature?
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What does 'taxonomy' literally mean?
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What is the taxonomic category above the kingdom rank?
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Which taxonomic rank is the lowest level of classification?
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A genus can have only one species.
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The ______ includes closely related families.
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Study Notes
Taxonomy Overview
- Taxonomy refers to the scientific classification of organisms.
- The term originates from Greek: 'taxis' (arrangement) and 'nomos' (method).
Taxonomic Hierarchy
- Organisms are classified into successive levels, ascending or descending from kingdom to species.
Taxonomic Categories
- Taxonomic categories denote the rank of organisms within the hierarchy.
- Major ranks include: species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, and domain.
Domain
- The highest taxonomic category is 'domain', which includes:
- Archaea
- Bacteria
- Eukarya
Kingdom
- Kingdoms are large groups comprised of similar phyla.
- Five recognized kingdoms are:
- Animalia
- Plantae
- Fungi
- Protista
- Monera
Phylum
- Phylum is more specific than kingdom; kingdom Animalia has 35 recognized phyla.
- Examples: Porifera, Chordata, Arthropoda.
Class
- Class groups similar orders and was the broadest category before phyla's introduction.
- Kingdom Animalia includes 108 classes, such as Mammalia, Reptilia, and Aves.
Order
- An order includes closely related families.
- Class Mammalia encompasses about 26 orders, such as Primates and Carnivora.
Family
- A family consists of various genera sharing common traits.
- In Carnivora, families include Canidae, Felidae, Ursidae.
Genus
- A genus comprises similar species.
- Genera can be monotypic (one species) or polytypic (multiple species).
- Example: Humans belong to the genus 'Homo'.
Species
- Species constitute the lowest taxonomic category, estimated at about 8.7 million diverse types.
- Defines organisms that are similar in form and reproduction.
- Further divisions can occur within species (sub-species).
Related Terms
- Taxon: Grouping of organisms defined by taxonomists.
- Binomial nomenclature: Two-part naming system for species, consisting of genus name and species name, established by Carolus Linnaeus.
Discussion Questions
- Which taxonomic rank is specific between order and genus?
- Identify scientific names of lions, mangoes, cockroaches, humans, and tigers.
- List the three domains and five kingdoms.
- Who pioneered binomial nomenclature?
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Description
Explore the essential concepts of taxonomy with these flashcards. Learn about the etymology of 'taxonomy' and the intricacies of taxonomic hierarchy. This quiz is designed for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of biological classification.
