Classification of Living Things

A guide to Chapter 4

Click on each section:

History of Classification Classification Today The Domains & Kingdoms

History of Classification

Classification is the grouping of things according to similar characteristics.

Biological classifications systems name and organize living things in a logical, meaningful way.

Taxonomy is the science of classification.

The First Classification Systems:

Aristotle a Greek philosopher in 400BC created a system to classify living things. He divided living things into plants and animals. Then grouped animals by how they move.

Carolus Linnaeus a Swedish scientist in the 1800’s developed the system we use today.

Linnaeus’ Classification System

Binomial Nomenclature: The naming system developed by Linnaeus. Each organism is given two names.

Genus: Like your last name. Always capitalized and in italics.

Species: Like your first name. Always lower cased and in italics.

Canis lupus is a wolf.

Aristotle’s Classification System

Plants

Fly Swim Walk

Animals

Living Things

Classification Today

Today’s classification system is based on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Internal and external structures. Advances in technology help us better observe

organisms. It gives each organism a unique named used all

over the world. All living things are classified into 8 groups.

Eight Major Groups

Species

Genus

Family

Order

Class

Phylum

Kingdoms

Domains

How to remember...

Stools

Green

Fat

On

Cards

Play

Kings

Do

New Classification Cart

The Domains & Kingdoms of Bacteria (Monera)

KingdomArchaeabacteriaAncient Bacteria

Domain Archaea

KingdomEubacteria

Typical Bacteria

Domain Bacteria

All Bacteria(Monera)

The Four Kingdoms of Domain Eukarya

Protists Fungi Plants Animals

Domain Eukarya

Domains Archaea & Bacteria

Bacteria Unicellular (one-celled organism) Prokaryotes: No Nucleus Either Autotrophs : Self- food (can make own food) Or Heterotrophs: Other-food (can’t make own

food) Earliest life forms on Earth (3.5 billion years ago). Once called Monerans

Protists

Unicellular Eukaryotes:

Have a nucleus Can be either Autotrophs or Heterotrophs. Several million years old.

Fungi

Multicellular organisms (many cells). Mushrooms, molds and yeast. Heterotrophs Eukaryotes

Plants

Multicellular Autotrophs Flowering plants, mosses, ferns, and

algae. Eukaryotes

Animals

Multicellular Have tissues, organs and organ systems. Heterotrophs. Eukaryotes

The End

Developed by Mrs. Scibelli

Exploring Life Science

Prentice Hall