Forefathers of Classification

• Aristotle (Greece): the first person to realize that all living things should be organized

• Carl Linneaus (17th century): 1st person to classify living things in a scientific way

• Charles Darwin (18th century): developed a classification system based on evolution

Grouping of Living Things by Domain

• Domains of life:– Eukaryota• Animals• Plants• Fungi (mushrooms)

– Archaea• Microbes

– Eubacteria• Blue-green algae

Grouping of Living Things by Category

• All living things are divided into seven categories– Kingdom (common)– Phylum– Class– Order– Family– Genus– Species (specific)

• Think: Keep Pond Clean Or Froggy Gets Sick

Kingdom is the most common and includes many diverse animals. As you move down the list, you get more and more specific about a particular animal.

Create Classification Study Aidspecies

class

genus

family

order

phylum

kingdom

Species

• Most EXCLUSIVE group• Contains organisms that are VERY closely

related. • Can reproduce and create more of their own

American Black Bear

Genus

• A group of species that are closely related and share a common ancestor.

Asiatic Black BearUrsus thibetanus

America Black BearUrsus americanus

Family

• A group of similar, related genera (genus)• Smaller than a genus but bigger than an order

Asiatic Black BearUrsus thibetanus

America Black BearUrsus americanus

Sloth BearMelursus ursinus

Order

• A taxon that made of closely related families.• For example, carnivores make up one order

Class

• A taxon containing one or more related orders• For example, mammals make up one class

Phylum

• A group of related classes• Chordata (vertebrates) are one phylum

Kingdom

• Most INCLUSIVE group (most species, greatest diversity)

• 6 kingdoms of life– Animals– Plants– Fungi– Protists– Bacteria – Archaebacteria

Keep Pond Clean Or Froggy Gets Sick!

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