Taxonomy is the scientific study of identifying, describing, and classifying organisms.
But what does that really mean?
Basically, taxonomy helps us put similar organisms into groups based on how similar they are. Taxonomy can be used for many different organisms, but we are going to focus on animals!
To decide what taxonomic group an animal belongs to, scientists look at characteristics, like...
Taxonomic groups are organized into something called a taxonomic hierarchy, which looks like an upside-down pyramid.
Groups near the top of the pyramid (the widest section of the pyramid) are very broad and have many animals with just a few similarities. Groups on the other end of the pyramid (the narrowest section of the pyramid) are more specific, having just a few animals with a lot in common!
Click the drop-down arrows for more information about each taxonomic group.
Domains are the highest level of taxonomy! Three domains exist:
1. Bacteria
2. Archeae (archaebacteria)
3. Eurcarya (animals, plants, fungi, and protists)
Some scientists recognize six kingdoms of life, while others recognize five. Recognizing six kingdoms is more common in America. These kingdoms are...
Animals belong to the kingdom Animalia!
There is debate over how many phyla exist!
Phyla are made of groups of organisms that share major characteristics! Phyla exist in each kingdom. Some common phyla in the Animalia kingdom include...
A taxonomic class is a group of organisms that share more specific characteristics that make them a little different than the rest of the organisms in the phylum. There are classes for all living organisms, but some of the most common animal classes are...
An order is a taxonomic group of organisms that are even more closely related than those found in the class. Orders include organisms with slightly similar physical features and DNA. Examples of orders in the animal kingdom are...
A family is a more specialized taxonomic group than a class. They are more closely related than all of the individuals in the class. Examples of well-known families include...
A genus is a group of organisms that included very closely related organisms. This taxonomic group is one step up from a species.
Some genuses have many species, like a tiger that has six living subspecies, while others have few or just one (like the whale shark that is the only member of their genus).
When writing a species Latin name, the genus is the capitalized first word. Common genuses include...
Animals that belong to the same species are very closely related and are capable of producing healthy offspring. These organisms usually have similar physical and behavioral characteristics and are biologically alike.
In an organism's scientific name, the first word is the genus while the second describes the species. Examples of common species are:
Subspecies are animals within a particular species that have become genetically and physically separated from the rest of the species. Organisms within a subspecies are even more closely related than organisms within the whole species. Subspecies are recognized in an organism's scientific name in the third word. Not all species have subspecies!
Common subspecies in the animal kingdom are...
Panthera pardus fusca
All animals belong to the domain Eukarya, also known as Eukaryotes.
Plants, fungi, and other microscopic organisms are also members of Eukarya!
All animals belong to the kingdom Animalia!
All animals are multicellular organisms that eat organic material (other living things).
Indian leopards, along with every other bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, and fish, belong to the phylum Chordata.
Animals in the phylum Chordata have one major similarity: they have bones (they are vertebrates)!
Indian leopards belong to the class Mammalia, meaning they are a mammal!
Animals in the class Mammalia are vertebrates, are warm-blooded (endothermic), have hair or fur, produce milk for their young, and generally have live babies instead of laying eggs.
Indian leopards belong to the order Carnivora, as do all close relatives of cats and dogs. This includes wolves, bears, lions, foxes, raccoons, hyenas, and seals!
Animals in the order Carnivora are similiar in that they are all meat-eating mammals.
All leopards and their close cat relatives belong to the family Felidae (this is how we got the word feline!).
All members of the Felidae family have fully or partially retractable claws, similar hunting strategies, and many other similar physical characteristics like their teeth, tails, and ability to climb.
Leopards belong in the genus Panthera, which includes all of the big cats.
Animals in the genus Panthera have a large body size, similar DNA, and specialized bones.
The species Panthera pardus includes all subspecies of leopards and is used to when talking about leopards as a whole!
Every member of this species has very similar physical characteristics (long tail, spots, retractable claws, yellow/orange color, ability to climb) and similar DNA!
Indian leopards are one of several subspecies of leopards!
Indian leopards live separately from other subspecies of leopards and have slightly different DNA, body size, and bone structure!
Struthio camelus
All animals belong to the domain Eukarya, also known as Eukaryotes.
Plants, fungi, and other microscopic organisms are also members of Eukarya!
All animals belong to the kingdom Animalia!
All animals are multicellular organisms that eat organic material (other living things).
Common ostriches, along with every other bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, and fish, belong to the phylum Chordata.
Animals in the phylum Chordata have one major similarity: they have bones (they are vertebrates)!
Common ostriches belong to the class Aves, meaning they are a bird!
Animals in the class Aves are vertebrates, are warm-blooded (endothermic), have feathers and wings, and lay eggs!
Common ostriches belong to the order Struthionidae. This is a very small order and only includes the two living species of ostriches.
Birds in this order are large and flightless!
Both species of ostrich belong in the family Struthionidae! They are the only members of their family.
Common ostriches are one of two species in the genus Struthio, the other being the smaller Somali ostrich.
The common ostrich is identified as a separate species from the Somali ostrich because of differences in DNA, body size, and where they live!
Select one of the animals below. Do some research and build their taxonomic hierarchy!
Ursus maritimus
Varanus komodoensis
Aptenodytes forsteri
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