cladographs Flashcards
What is the smallest taxon in the levels of classification?
Species
A species is defined as a population of organisms that share similar characteristics and can breed with each other.
Who developed the system of classification for organisms?
Linnaeus
Linnaeus grouped organisms based on shared body structures.
What are the main levels of classification in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Originally, there were 8 levels, now there is an added level called Domain above kingdoms.
What is a taxon?
A group of organisms classified together based on shared characteristics
The singular form of taxa is taxon.
What is the taxon that includes various species with common characteristics?
Genus
For example, the common housecat belongs to the genus Felis.
Which family do cats belong to?
Felidae
Other animals like lions and tigers belong to the genus Panthera.
What is the order that includes cats and dogs?
Carnivora
All members of this order are carnivores.
What class do all members of the order Carnivora belong to?
Mammalia
Members of this class are warm-blooded, have body hair, and produce milk.
What is the phylum that includes mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles?
Chordata
This phylum includes a large number of organisms that share basic characteristics.
What are the two giant taxa that phyla belong to?
Kingdoms
Animals form the kingdom Animalia and plants form the kingdom Plantae.
How many domains are there in the classification system?
Three
The three domains are Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea.
What are the six kingdoms in the most accepted classification system?
Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Bacteria, Archaea
This system evolved due to discoveries of new life forms.
What are the characteristics of members of the kingdom Animalia?
Multicellular, heterotrophic, cells with a cell membrane, lack a cell wall
These organisms do not produce their own food.
What defines members of the kingdom Plantae?
Multicellular, have cell walls containing cellulose, autotrophic
They carry on photosynthesis.
What type of cell walls do members of the Kingdom Fungi have?
Cell walls that do not contain cellulose
Fungi are heterotrophic and do not carry on photosynthesis.
Fill in the blank: The next largest taxon after species is _______.
Genus
True or False: The genus Felis includes species such as lions and tigers.
False
Lions and tigers belong to the genus Panthera, not Felis.
