Term | Definition |
Biodiversity & Classification | Biodiversiy is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Classification is the division of organisms into kingdoms, groups, or classes based on specific characteristics. |
Purpose of Classification | Classifying answers questions such as:
-How many known species are there?
-What are the defining characteristics of each species?
-What are the relationships between these species? |
Taxonomy & Founder | Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms.
Carolus Linnaeus founded modern taxonomy and classified all living things based on their structure. |
Seven Levels System | The Seven Levels System is a classification system based on shared characteristics
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
The more characteristics the organisms share, the more closely related they might be. |
Vertebrates | Vertebrates have a backbone and spinal column. They can be divided into further groups:
fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. |
Dichotomous Key | A Dichotomous Key is an aid used to identify organisms and that consists of the answers to a series of questions. |
Scientific Name | A scientific name is made up of the Genus and Species. The Genus name begins with a capital letter, and the Species name starts with a lowercase letter. |
Animals | Animals are multi-cellular, can usually move, depend on other organisms for food, and undergo sexual reproduction. |
Intervertebrates | Intervertebrates don't have any type of bones, including backbones, but have an exoskelton for support. |
Mollusks | Mollusks have a hard shell to protect soft parts of their bodies and a muscular foot for movement. Ex: clams, slugs squids, octopus |
Arthropods | Arthropods have exoskeletons, a segmented body, and jointed legs. Ex: lobsters, crabs, insects, and spiders |