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How Scientists Classify Animals

Some scientists think there are 30 million different species or kinds of animals on Earth. Scientists sort or classify animals into groups by their characteristics.

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Its not an easy job, but scientists from all over the world try to search for new animal species every day.

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Take a look a

t

these newly

discovered

deep sea

creatures!

To classify different type of animals into groups, scientist take a look at how they are alike and different.

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Classification

piglet

Scientists classify animals that do not have backbones into a group called invertebrates. There are 10 groups of invertebrates:

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invertebrates

protozoa

flatworms

mollusks

Annelid worms

Coelenterates (jellyfish and sea anenome)

Echinoderms (starfish)

Arachnids (spiders and scorpions)

Crustaceans (Crabs and lobsters)

insects

Myriapods (starfish)

Scientists classify some invertebrate together that have 6 legs. Sometimes they have wings. They do not have a backbone.

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dragonfly

Monarch butterfly

Red ant

katydid

bumblebee

All of these animals have antennae. What is the name for this group of animals?

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If you guessed insects, you are right! Insects are the largest group of animals on Earth. There are so many species of insects that scientists are yet to discover them all.

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Scientific Checklist:

no backbone

6 legs

have antennae

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Scientists classify animals that have backbones into a group called vertebrates. There are 5 groups of vertebrates:

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vertebrates

birds

fish reptiles

mammals

amphibians

One group of animals share some common characteristics. They have fur or hair on their bodies. They are warm-blooded.

Polar bear

gorilla

daschund

They give live birth to their young. The babies drink milk from their mothers. Can you guess what animal group this is?

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Sea otters

deer deer

Sea otters

Then you were right! Humans are mammals, too!

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Did you think

these were

Scientific Checklist:

Have fur or hair

Warm-blooded

Give birth to live young

Babies drink their mothers milk

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Scientists group other animals together since they have feathers and wings.

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hummingbird

grosbeak

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They have beaks.

...and lay eggs. seagull

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But murres lay their eggs right on a rocky ledge.

You probably already know what name scientists call this group. What is it?

robin eggs

Scientific Checklist:

Have feathers and wings.

Have beaks.

Babies hatch from eggs.

Warm-blooded

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Scientists group other animals together that have scales and swim in the water.

lionfish lionfish

grouper

shark

Even sharks are in this group. They are all called

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Scientific Checklist:

Have scales and fins

Cold-blooded

Use gills to breathe underwater

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People often have trouble distinguishing between the next two groups of animalsamphibians and reptiles.

Both reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded and lay eggs.

Sea turtle

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But reptiles have scales and dry skin.

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Here are some reptiles. See how dry and scaly their skin is?

alligator

snake

Anole lizard

tortoise

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Scientific Checklist:

Have scales

cold-blooded

Young hatch from eggs

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Amphibians live on land and in the water. Amphibians usually have moist skin.

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Scientific Checklist:

Moist skin

Cold-blooded

Babies hatch from eggs

Live on land and water

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Ill give you 5 animals to classify. Youll need to list at least 2 reasons why you sorted the way you did. The answer for each is on the slide following.

Ready? created by Jeri Faber

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This adorable baby chipmunk will drink milk from its mother.

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I hope these wings will help it fly from the nest soon since it looks a little crowded!

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Amphibians lay eggs. Did you know it takes two years for bullfrog tadpoles to develop into frogs?

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Amphibians have moist skin!

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Clownfish use gills to breathe.

You probably noticed all of these scales on its skin. Take a look at the fins, too.

Photo taken by Jeri Faber

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Reptiles hatch from eggs.

Reptiles have dry scaly skin!

I can tell you have wha

t

it takes to be a great

biologist!

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Lets Review!

How do scientists classify animals?

What are the 5 classifications of animals with a backbone?

What is the largest group of animals on Earth?

What type of animal are you?

Why do you think scientists classify animals?

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