Classification

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Classification

• Grouping things based on their characteristics!!

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Section 17.1 Summary pages 443-449
How classification began

• Taxonomy is the branch of biology that groups and
  names organisms based on studies of their
  different characteristics.

• Biologists who study taxonomy are called
  taxonomists.

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Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), a Swedish botanist

• Linnaeuss system was based on physical and
  structural similarities of organisms.

binomial nomenclature Two word naming system
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Section 17.1 Summary pages 443-449
Species Scientific Names

• Modern classification systems use a two-word
  naming system called binomial nomenclature that
  Linnaeus developed to identify species.

• In this system, the first word identifies the
  genus of the organism.

• A genus (JEE nus) (plural, genera) consists of a
  group of similar species.

• The second word, which sometimes describes a
  characteristic of the organism, is called the
  specific epithet.

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Section 17.1 Summary pages 443-449
Species Scientific Names

• Thus, the scientific name for each species,
  referred to as the species name, is a combination
  of the genus name and specific epithet.

A Russian scientist discovers what appears to be
a new type of bird. After conferring with
scientists in other countries about the
characteristics of this bird, he decides to give
the bird a new scientific name. How should he go
about naming that bird?
Homo sapiens
Homo Genus, sapiens wise man
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Naming Organisms
Why do we need to name organisms?
What is the name of this organism?
Why do scientists not want to use common names?
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The common name of many animals can be misleading.
Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) is a
bird.
Killer whales (Orcinus orca )are the largest
member of the dolphin family.
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Flying fish (Parezocoetus mesogaster) do
not fly, but glide.
Seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae) is not a
horse, but a fish.
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Why do scientist not use common names? Confusing
more than one common name Misleading starfish
is not a fish
Why use a scientific name?
There is only one scientific name Felis concolor
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Species Scientific Names
United States and England- Sparrow Spain
gorrion domestico Holland huismus Scientific
name Passer domesticus
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Scientific Name
What language is used for the scientific
naming? LATIN
What are the 2 parts of the scientific name?
Genus (Latin for group) species
general description exact kind
organisms share a major only 1 kind of
organism characteristic within a
genus
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Recognizing Relationships Tell me
something about each of these organisms.
giant saguaro cactus fragrant water lily domestic
dog common California mouse three color pansy
Carnegiea gigantea Nymphaea odorata Canis
familiaris Peromyscus californicus Viola tricolor
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Genus speciesnames should be used when
referring to an organism.Species name alone is
not enough.
Drosophila melanogaster is a fruit fly.
Thamnophis melanogaster is a garter
snake.
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What is the correct way to write the scientific
name? drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster Drosophila
melanogaster D. melanogaster
Always capitalize the Genus and not the species.
Why are scientific names in Latin?

1. Latin is no longer used in conversation.
2. Its tradition.
3. Universal.

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COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES SCIENTIFIC
NAME Human Homo sapiens Homo
sapiens Dog Canis familiaris Canis
familiaris Spanish lynx
Felis pardina Felispardina Tiger
Panthera tigris Panthera tigris Jaguar
Panthera onca Panthera onca Leopard
Panthera pardus P. pardus Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana rana catesbeiana Cameroon
Toad Bufo superciliaris Bufo
superciliaris Houston Toad Bufo
houstonensis Bufo houstonensis Nile crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus Crocodylus
niloticus Caiman Caiman crocodilus Caim
an crocodilus Jamaican boa
Epicrates subflavus Epicrates subflavus Puerto
Rican boa Epicrates inornatus Epicrates
inornatus Jamaican iguana
Cyclura collei Cyclura Collei Mona iguana
Cyclura stejnegeri Cyclura stejnegeri Desert
monitor Varanus griseus Varanus
griseus Komodo dragon Varnaus komodoensi
s varanus Komodoensis Aquatic box turtle
Terrapene coahuila Terrapene
coahuila Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus Falco peregrinus Piping
plover Charadrius melodus
Charadrius melodus Audouin's gull
Larus audouinii Larus
audouinii Relict gull Larus relictus
Larus relictus Tooth cave spider
Leptoneta myopica Leptoneta
myopica