Name_____________________________________________ Date ____________ Hour _______
Answer the following questions about classifying organism.
1. Grouping things based on similarities and traits is called? _________________________
2. What is the science of grouping or organizing things? ___________________________
3. What is the system of naming organisms called ________________________________
Use the diagram below to answer the following questions.
4. Fill in the rectangles to the left with the
levels of classification - from the largest to
the smallest.
5. Which is the largest category for grouping
organisms?
6. Which category has the fewest members?
7. What two levels of classification make up the scientific name? ______________ & _____________
8. What is the genus name of the animal Canis familiaris: ____________________
9. What is the species name of the animal Vulpes vulpes: ____________________
10. What language is the scientific name written in? _______________________
11. The first letter of every genus name is _____________________________.
12. The first letter of every species name is ____________________________.
13. Why do scientist use scientific names instead of common names? __________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
14.______ If we know that Canis lupus is a gray wolf, and Canis latrons is a coyote, then by looking at
their names we know that they both belong to the same:
a. genus
b. species
c. pack
d. habitat
15. ______ Of the following the closest relative of Felis concolor is:
a. Acer rurum
b. Contopus perinax
c. Felis tigirs
d. Ficus carica
Use the tables of classification to answer the questions.
Classification Level
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Aardwolf
Anamalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Hyaenidae
Proteles
cristatus
Gray Wolf
Coyote
Anamalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Canidae
Canis
lupis
Anamalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Canidae
Canis
latrans
Lion
Blue whale
Anamalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Felidae
Panthera
leo
Anamalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Cetacea
Balenopteridae
Balaenoptera
musculus
16. What classification groups do all of the organisms in the table have in common?________________
______________________________________________________________________________
17. Which two organisms in the table are similar to each other? Explain: ________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
18. Which of the organisms in the table are most similar to a tiger Panthera tigris? Explain _________
______________________________________________________________________________
19. Based on their kingdoms, what are the shared characteristics of the organism’s in the table? _____
______________________________________________________________________________
The classification of four organisms.
Organism
Dog
Wolf
Orangutan
Chimpanzee
Kingdom
Animal
Animal
Animal
Animal
Phylum
Chordata
Chordata
Chordata
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Mammalia
Mammalia
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Carnivora
Carnivora
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Canidae
Homindae
Homindae
Genus
Canis
Canis
Pongo
Pan
Species
familiaris
lupus
pygmaeus
troglodytes
20. What kingdom do all four of these organisms belong? ___________________________________
21. What classification groups are shared by all four organisms? _____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
22. Which two organisms share the same genus? _____________________ & __________________
23. Which organism is more similar to a chimpanzee:
an ORANGUTAN or
a DOG?
Explain: ________________________________________________________________________
24. Which organism is more similar to a wolf:
a DOG
or
a CHIMPANZEE?
Explain: ________________________________________________________________________