2. What is Taxonomy?
Taxonomy – naming organisms based on common traits
Scientists name large groups of animals, smaller groups, all
the way down to individual species.
The system they use to name animals is this:
Domain
Kingdom
Larger groups
Phylum
Taxonomic
Groups Class Order
Order
Family Family
Genus
Species Species
3. What is Taxonomy?
Taxonomy – naming organisms based on common traits
Scientists name large groups of animals, smaller groups, all
the way down to individual species.
The system they use to name animals is this:
Domain
Kingdom Kings
Phylum Play
Taxonomic
Groups Class Chess
Order On
Family Funny
Genus Green
Species Squares
5. Species Scientific Names
Species names are always binomials, which means there are 2 names,
example:
Carcharodon carcharias is the scientific name for a great white shark.
Scientific names are derived from Latin.
Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus are NOT binomials.
Carcharodon carcharias
6. Taxonomy and Trees
Organisms are named based on their position on evolutionary trees.
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
7. How Trees are Constructed
Today, most trees are constructed using DNA. Single base
pair differences in the DNA are traits.
Extinct species are put onto the trees using traits from the
organism’s fossils.
8. Scientific vs Common Names
Animals have scientific and common names.
Common names – example: “catfish”
But there are about 3000 species of catfish!! So which one??
Scientific names – example: Lacantunia enigmatica
Lacantunia enigmatica is ONE species of catfish, so scientists from
different countries can talk about it without any confusion. Scientific
names are more clear and lead to less confusion
Good bad examples
Common name Easy to remember Some species can Large forest gecko
have many Catfish
common names
Scientific name -One species will have Hard to Gekko smithii
only one scientific name. remember and Lacantunia enigmatica
-Clear for people who pronounce
speak different languages.
10. Questions
1. Why might using a scientific name be better than a common name?
2. Name the 8 major taxonomic groups that scientists put organisms
into.
3. What taxonomic group is Sceloporus occidentalis in? Hint: the
answer is one of the 8 groups you listed in number 2.
4. Tell me what taxonomy is in your own words.
5. What do scientists use to construct the evolution trees we use
today?
6. What is the binomial species name for humans?
7. What kingdom are humans in?
