Name______________________________________________Class_____________Date______________
TAXONOMY/CLASSIFICATION IDENTIFICATION
Example: The species Pycnoporus cinnabarinus is native to temperate regions of Europe and North America. Pycnoporus
is considered highly useful in business and industry because its cells secrete enzymes that break down the
polysaccharides in wood and paper. This organism typically produces large shelf-like body that is red in color and can be
found growing on dead trees or other woody debris, from which it absorbs nutrients.
a. What type of organization does it have? (Number of cells) __________________
b. What domain should it be in based on cell structure? (Pro or Euk) ____________
c. How does it get its nutrition? ________________________
d. This organism belongs to Kingdom ___________________________
Practice 1: Canis lupus are known by their common name- the grey wolf. Wolves can
thrive in a diversity of habitats from the tundra to woodlands, forests, grasslands and
deserts. They are multicellular, eukaryotes- meaning that their cells contain membrane
bound organelles but do not contain cell walls. Wolves are predatory and carnivores-they prefer to eat large hoofed mammals such as deer, elk, bison and moose. They
also hunt smaller mammals such as beavers, rodents and hares. Adults can eat 20
pounds of meat in a single meal. Wolves reproduce sexually and typically mate for
life. Wolves are pregnant for about 63 days and usually birth four to six pups.
a. What type of organization does it have? (Number of cells) __________________
b. What domain should it be in based on cell structure? (Prokaryote or Eukaryote) ____________
c. How does it get its nutrition (autotroph or heterotroph)? ________________________
d. What kind of environment does it live in? ___________________________________________________________
e. What is the scientific name of this organism? ____________________ ____________________
f. This organism belongs to Kingdom ___________________________
Practice 2: Euglena is characterized by an elongated cell with one nucleus, chloroplasts, a contractile vacuole, an
eyespot, and a flagellum to help them swim. Certain species, example Euglena rubra, appear red in sunlight because
they contain a large amount of carotenoid pigment. The Euglena’s nutrition comes from complex carbohydrates that are
produced through photosynthesis OR food can be absorbed directly through the cell’s surface. Species of Euglena live in
fresh and brackish water. The contractile vacuole is used to pump out either excess water or excess salt so the organism
can maintain homeostasis. Some species develop large populations as green or red “blooms” in ponds or lakes.
a. What type of organization does it have? (Number of cells) __________________
b. What kind of cells does it have? (Pro or Euk) _____________________
c. How does it get its nutrition? ________________________
d. What kind of environment does it live in? ___________________________________________________________
e. What is the taxonomic GENUS of this organism? ____________________
f. This organism belongs to Kingdom ___________________________
Practice 3: Yeast is a single celled organism whose DNA is packed intro chromosomes that are localized in a structure
called the nucleus. In addition to this organelle, yeast also possesses mitochondria, which are the power plants of the
cell that generate ATP energy needed for cellular function. The yeast cell is very similar in structure and function to
typical cells from higher organisms, including humans. Yeast consumes sugar by absorbing it from the cells of a plant or
animal. The yeast cell gives off carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol as it breaks down the sugars. This process is known as
fermentation and has several industrial applications such as the brewing of beer and baking of breads.
a. What type of organization does it have? (Number of cells) __________________
b. What kind of cells does it have? (Pro or Euk) _____________________
c. How does it get its nutrition? ________________________
d. This organism belongs to Kingdom ___________________________
Practice 4: Staphylococcus aureus is a unicellular organism that is frequently found in the human respiratory tract and
on the skin. S. aureus appears as grape-like clusters when viewed through a microscope with no nucleus, and has large,
round, golden-yellow colonies. S. aureus reproduces asexually by binary fission. The two daughter cells do not fully
separate and remain attached to one another. This is why the cells are observed in clusters. Although S. aureus is not
always pathogenic, it is a common cause of skin infections (e.g. boils), respiratory disease, and food poisoning. Diseaseassociated strains often promote infections by producing potent protein toxins. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant
forms of pathogenic S. aureus (e.g. MRSA) is a worldwide problem in clinical medicine.
a. What type of organization does it have? (Number of cells) __________________
b. What kind of cells does it have? (Pro or Euk) _____________________
c. What kind of environment does it live in? _________________________________
d. What is the taxonomic SPECIES of this organism? ____________________
e. This organism belongs to Kingdom ___________________________
Based on the following organisms and their characteristics from practice #1-4, which organism is LEAST related to the
others and why? Organism _____________ is LEAST related to the others
BECAUSE___________________________________________.
Practice 5: READ THE CLADOGRAM
1.
Which organisms above have fur and mammary glands?
2.
Which organisms have jaws?
3.
What traits do the Lizard and Chimp have in common?
4.
Who is the earliest to evolve (most simple)?
Practice 6: READ THE CHART and ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. Which taxon includes more organisms: Class OR Phylum? ___________________________
2. If two organisms are in the same ORDER, what other TAXON levels MUST they also share?
___________________, ____________________, ________________________
3. Which two organisms in the chart are MOST closely related? Explain. ___________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. To what TAXON level do ALL 4 organisms belong? _________________________
5. What is the scientific name of the human? _________________________ ______________________