CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS



CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS.

Scientists categorise living things in groups of individuals with common characteristics: they classify them. Classification criteria are the characteristics that allow us to group together certain living things and distinguish them from the rest.

Taxonomic groups.

Scientists categorise living things in groups and sub-groups called taxa. Taxa are classified in taxonomic ranks that have specific names: species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom.

Species.

Species are the smallest taxonomic rank. Species group together those organisms with more characteristics in common.

Each species has scientific name. This name is formed by two Latin words-the first the genus, and the second the species they belong to. For instance, the wolf is called Canis lupus.

Kingdom.

Kingdom is the highest taxonomic rank. Kingdoms group together those organisms with fewer characteristics in common.

Scientists classify living things into five kingdoms: monera kingdom, protoctista kingdom, fungi kingdom, plant kingdom and animal kingdom.

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|Key vocabulary: |

|Categorise (v.) |

|Classify (v.) |

|Distinguish (v.) |

|Rank (n.) |

|Kingdom (n.) |

Look at this example of classification:

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ACTIVITIES.

Define the term “classification criteria”.

Write down the names of the different taxonomic ranks, beginning with the superior rank.

Look at the picture and answer the following questions:

How many species are there in the picture?

Which ones belong to the same kingdom?

Which ones belong to the same phylum?

Which ones belong to the same family?

Which one belong to the same genus?

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If you are anxious to know more about animal classification, let´s try this game:

Classifying Critters: Part 1

Can you make a sentence using the first letter of each kingdom?

Look the percentage distribution of each group of living things:

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