Taxonomy Flashcards
taxonomy
classifying and giving each organism a universal name
classify/classification
to categrize or put into groups
dichotomous key
tool used to identify organisms. At each step, it splits characteristics into two categories: “has” or “does not have”
domain
3 largest taxonomic categories – larger than a kingdom (Eubacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea)
kingdom
large taxonomic group (Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria)
phylum
a group of closely related classes (for example: Chordata, Mollusca, Porifera, etc)
class
a group of closely related orders
order
a group of closely related families (for example: Order Carnivora - animals that eat meat)
family
a group of closely related genera (for example: Family Felidae (cats) or Family Canidae (dogs))
genus
a group of closely related species. The first part of a scientific name. Always capitalized (example: Homo in Homo sapiens)
species
a group of similar organisms that can interbreed and have fertile offspring. The second part of a scientific name. Always lower case. (example: sapiens in Homo sapiens)
binomial nomenclature
2-name scientific naming that uses Latin, developed by Carolus Linneaus. (example: Homo sapiens - humans or Panthera tigris - tiger)
Archaebacteria
single-celled prokaryote (no nucleus), bacteria, live in harsh conditions (very salty, no oxygen, very hot), ancient form of life. (Remember: harsh=Arch)
Eubacteria
single-celled prokaryote (no nucleus), bacteria, advanced bacteria, live all around us, many are germs
Protista
single or multicellular, eukaryotes (have nucleus), live in pond water, can move, some are photosynthetic
