Classifying organisms Flashcards
(15 cards)
why is classification important
if organisms didnt have systems of classification identifying and naming organisms would be impossible leading to mass confusion.
what are the levels of classification
KPCOFGSS
kingdom
phylum
class
order
family
genus/genera
species
scientific name
species?
smallest classification group
memebers of a species can breed together to produce a fertile offspring
ex familaris
genera(genus)
similar species are grouped into genera
all memebers of a genus have common features ex the domestic cat (felis domestica) and lynx (felis lynx belong to the same genus, felis
families?
related genera are grouped into families
the cat family includes the domestic cat (felis domestica), the lion (panthers lion) and the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus)
order
a group of similar families is called an order
cats bears dogs and weasels are all from the order Carnivora
Classes
orders with common features are grouped into classes
the order carnivora belongs to the class mammalia
phyla/phylum
classes are grouped into phyla
mammals are members of the phlum chordata
kingdoms (basic info)
biggest classification group
the chordates belong to the animal kingdom
scientific names
addition to a common name
in latin
a name that refers to it only and is understood all over the world
ex. in north america, puma and mountain lion mean the same animal but by using the scientific name we avoid any confusion
kingdom monera
living organisms that resemble the earliest forms of life on earth
they live as single cells. or colnies of identical cells
they dont have a nucleus, their genetic materal lies free in the cytoplasm not enclosed by a cell membrane
over 3000 known species
their cell walls are rigid made of material not found in any other kingdom
ex purple bacteria on seaweed
kingdom protoctista
protists are single celled organisms that live individually or in colonies
over 28 000 known species
have nuclei, enclosed by cell membrane
live in water or moist places
sometimes called ‘first animals’ beacuse they feed by digesting complex food materials
ex. algae or protozoa
kingdom fungi
large group with 75 000 known named species
some are unicellular
body is made up of mycelium (network) of thread like hyphae
hypha contains a nuclei but no cross walls for cell division
saprotrophs
kingdom plant
mostly multicellular
they have chlorophyll and make their own food (through photosynthesis)
over 300 000 listed plants
kingdom animal
multicellular
move to get food -> which is swallowed and digested
over 1.5 million listed animal species-> 1 million being insects
