4.3.1 biological classification

system that uses genus name & the species name

• for our convenience • make study of living things manageable • easier to identify organisms • see relationship between species

• domain • kingdom • phylum • class • order • family • genus • species

• highest taxonomic rank • 3 domains: archaea, eubacteria & eukaryote

• (traditionally) 5 main kingdoms: > plantae > animalia > fungi > protoctista > prokaryote (no nucleus)

• major subdivision of kingdom • contains all groups of organisms with same body plan eg. backbone

• all possess same general traits eg. number of legs

• subdivision of class using additional info • eg. class mammal is divided into meat-eating (order carnivora) & vegetation ewting (order herbivora)

• group of closely related genera • eg. within ‘order carnivora’ we recognise the ‘dog’ & ‘cat’ family

• group of closely related species

• basic unit of classification • all members of same species show variations (essentially the same)

system for naming organisms using the genus name & species name

carl linnaeus

• different common names used in different countries & other parts of the same country • translation of languages/dialects may give different names • same common name may be used for different species in other parts of world