classification

Question 1

what is artificial classification?

Answer 1

artificial classification sorts organisms into groups based on similar identifiable characteristics.

i.e. the dolphin, turtle, fish, platypus, crab and duck are all aquatic organisms.

Question 2

what is natural classification?

Answer 2

a system which considers the degree of evolutionary relationship amongst organisms.

a group of organisms that share characteristics that have been inherited from a common ancestor.

Question 3

what is hierarchical classification?

Answer 3

a system of classifying organisms on hierarchical levels.

• the groups are positioned in hierarchal order, each level is called a taxonomic rank or taxa.

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 4

what is a domain?

Answer 4

domains are the highest taxonomic rank, the three domains are;

• archaea (prokaryote)
• bacteria (prokaryote)
• eukarya (eukaryotes)

Question 5

what is a kingdom?

Answer 5

all domains are subdivided into kingdoms, the domain eukarya is subdivided into several kingdoms including

• animalia (animals)
• plantae (plants)
• protista (protists)
• fungi
• monera

Question 6

what is a phylum?

Answer 6

all members of a phylum have a common ancestor and similar anatomical features.

Question 7

what is a genus?

Answer 7

a highly specific grouping of species that are very closely related.

Question 8

what is a species?

Answer 8

species is the most specific ranking in the taxonomic hierarchy, all members of one species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.