Taxonomy Flashcards
Module 1 (Lecture 5)
Study of the principles of scientific classification; systematic ordering and naming of organisms
Taxonomy
Any taxonomic group or entity
Taxon/Taxa
Who governs taxonomy?
Nobody
New species are decided via peer-review
How do you ‘discover’ a new species?
No firm rules
Compare morphological, genetic features, physiological features to known specimens
Publish in scientific journal
The evolutionary history of the origin and diversification of any taxon, usually presented in the form
of a dendrogram. The one true tree of life.
Phylogeny
An approach or methodology for classifying organisms based on common evolutionary descent
Cladistics
Father of
Taxonomy
Linneaus (Swedish botanist, 1707-1778)
Who first unified system for naming all plants and animals
(Systema Naturae)
Linneaus (Swedish botanist, 1707-1778)
How was Systema Naturae organised?
Based on shared characters among organisms
Doesn’t consider evolution (predates evolutionary biology)
Hierarchical system of
classification based on Linnaean taxonomy
Taxonomic Ranks
What are the ranks of taxonomy?
Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom, and Domain
Subspecies, subclass, superorder are examples of …
Intermediate taxa
Problems with Modern Taxonomy (3)
Not governed by any international body
Skewed towards pedagogical convenience rather than a
true reflection of phylogeny
Hierarchical ranks are difficult and outdated
Animalia (= Metazoa)
Plantae
Fungi
Protista
Monera (all prokaryotes)
5 Kingdom System
Animalia (= Metazoa)
Plantae
Fungi
Protista
Archea
Bacteria
6 Kingdom system
