Classification and Taxonomy Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is classification?

Classification is the division of organisms into groups, classes, based on specific characteristics.

Putting plants and animals into orderly groups based on similar characteristics is called?

Classification.

How does classifying living things help human beings?

Make sense of the world.

What is taxonomy?

The science describing, classifying, and naming organisms. Signup and view all the answers

Today a system of classification similar to the system developed by Carolus Linnaeus is?

Still used. Signup and view all the answers

The more closely related living things are to each other, the more?

Characteristics they share. Signup and view all the answers

Organisms are thought to be closely related when they have?

Many characteristics in common. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the three types of animals are most closely related: bears, lions, and house cats?

Lions and house cats. Signup and view all the answers

Before the 1600s, scientists divided organisms into what two groups?

Plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What Swedish scientist created the first organized modern taxonomy?

Carolus Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

How many levels of classification do scientists use today?

<ol start="8"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why are platypus, brown bear, lion, and house cat thought to be related to each other?

Because they share characteristics of hair and mammary glands. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic do the bear, lion, and house cat have that the platypus does not?

Give birth to live young. Signup and view all the answers

All organisms are classified into?

One of three domains. Signup and view all the answers

Each domain of organisms is divided into?

Several kingdoms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of the phylum?

Phyla. Signup and view all the answers

A group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring is called?

Species. Signup and view all the answers

In order from largest to smallest, what are the 8 levels of classification?

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 8 levels of classification?

<ol> <li>Domain, 2. Kingdom, 3. Phylum, 4. Class, 5. Order, 6. Family, 7. Genus, 8. Species.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

No matter how many common names an organism might have, it only has one?

Scientific name. Signup and view all the answers

How was the naming of organisms different before Carolus Linnaeus, and how was the system difficult for scientists?

It was hard to use organisms and it had more than one name. Signup and view all the answers

Who simplified the naming of living things by giving each species name?

Carolus Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

In the scientific name for the Asian elephant Elephas maximus, the word 'Elephas' indicates the animal's?

Genus. Signup and view all the answers

All genus names begin with a?

Capital letter. Signup and view all the answers

All species names begin with a?

Lowercase letter. Signup and view all the answers

Scientific names are usually in one of these two languages?

Latin and Greek. Signup and view all the answers

In the scientific name Tyrannosaurus Rex, what is the species name?

Rex. Signup and view all the answers

What abbreviation do scientists sometimes use when referring to Tyrannosaurus Rex?

T. Rex. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific name for the common house cat?

Felis Domesticus. Signup and view all the answers

Scientists use a dichotomous key to?

Identify organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of identification aid are scientists using when they work through a series of paired descriptive statements?

Dichotomous key. Signup and view all the answers

Of all organisms on the Earth, what is true?

Not all have been discovered or classified. Signup and view all the answers

What do scientists do when a newly discovered organism does not fit in an existing category?

Create a new category. Signup and view all the answers

What newly discovered organism, first found about 50 years ago, did not fit in any existing phyla?

Xenoturbella. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification and Taxonomy Overview

Classification divides organisms into groups based on shared characteristics, aiding human understanding of biodiversity.
Organisms are systematically categorized, helping to distinguish and organize life forms efficiently.

Taxonomy Fundamentals

Taxonomy is the scientific discipline for describing, classifying, and naming living organisms.
The modern classification system is influenced by the methods developed by Carl Linnaeus.

Classification Similarities and Relationships

Closely related organisms share more characteristics; more shared traits indicate a closer relationship.
Bears, lions, and house cats are mammals that share traits like giving birth to live young.

Historical Context

Before the 1600s, organisms were primarily classified into two groups: plants and animals.
Carl Linnaeus is recognized for formalizing the first organized and modern classification system.

Levels of Classification

There are eight recognized levels of classification: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
Organisms belong to one of three domains, subdivided into multiple kingdoms.

Scientific Naming Conventions

Every species has a unique scientific name comprising of a genus name (capitalized) and a species name (lowercase).
Scientific names are generally derived from Latin or Greek.
A species is defined as a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.

Identification Tools

A dichotomous key is utilized by scientists to identify organisms through a series of paired descriptive statements.
Scientists may create new categories when encountering organisms that do not fit existing classifications.

Discoveries and New Organisms

Many organisms remain undiscovered or unclassified; ongoing research continues to identify biodiversity.
Xenoturbella is a recently discovered organism that did not fit into previously established phyla, highlighting the dynamic nature of taxonomy.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of classification and taxonomy with these flashcards. Understand how organisms are divided into groups based on their characteristics and learn about the importance of categorizing living things. Perfect for students seeking to grasp the basics of biological classification.