Classifying Creatures!

Molly Dahlgren

Q: With all the living creatures in the world, how do you people keep track of them?

A: With a system called “biological classification” or “scientific taxonomy”

Q: Who thought of it?

A: Carlous Linnaeus, a botanist (plant scientist) from Sweden

Fast Fact: The Swedish scientist found and classified more than 4,400 species of animals

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0776195.html

The Different Parts of Classification…

We’ll focus on animals for this lesson

Kingdom

• Largest group• For animals: Animalia• Includes: – all living things except plants and bacteria

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0776195.html

Phylum

Vertebrate• Backbone• Also called

Chordata– Internal

skeletons

Invertebrate• No backbone• Also called Arthropoda– External skeletons

Looks at the structure of the animal’s body

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0776195.html

Class

Examples:• Mammalia (mammal)• Amphibia (amphibians)• Insecta (insects, bugs)• Arachnida (arachnid,

spiders)• Aves (bird)

Looks at certain traits of the animal• Warm or cold blooded?• Fur/body hair?• Limbs/wings?• Way of breathing?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification

Order

For mammals:• Carnivora• Herbivora• Omnivora

Focuses on what and how the animal eats

Source: Molly Dahlgren

Animals of a different class than

mammals have different types/names

of order

Family

• More specific classification based on looks and smaller groups

• Example– Canine (dogs)– Feline (cats)

Leopard is a cat so it’s from the feline family

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard

Genus

• This classification is even more specific!

• Looks at certain traits of the animal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard

LeopardCat“Roars”So it’s part of the roaring cat genus “Panthera”

Species

• Smallest group in taxonomy• Most specific

• Names the animal itself

Leopard: P. pardus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopardhttp://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0776195.html

LeopardKingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Order: Mammalia

Class: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Panthera

Species: P. pardus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification

Source 6

More CreaturesGray WolfKingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Species: C. lupus

SalmonKingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Salmoninformes

Family: Salmonidae

Genus: Salmo

Species: S. salar

Sources 1, 3Sources 2, 4

Quiz Time!

What class would the bear be classified as?

Source 5

A Mammal!Is an animal

Has a backboneWarm blooded

Has fur

Why do we need a classification system?

• Organizes the thousand of animals on earth• Easier identification• Gives information about the animal

Remember!

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

King Phillip Came Over From Great Spain

http://listverse.com/2007/12/17/top-10-scientific-mnemonics/

Works Cited

Information:1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_wolf2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_salmon

Pictures:3. http://www.revolutionmyspace.com/image-code-8/gray_wolf4. http://animalscamp.com/atlantic-salmon/5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brown-bear-in-spring.jpg6.http://ourpreciousneighbours.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/leopard/

Background Image:http://www.ipadwallpaperhd.com/view/leopard_print_background-1440x900.html