Taxonomy
Objectives
Describe binomial nomenclature
Explain Linnaeus’ system of
classification
History of Taxonomy
Taxonomy – the science of grouping organisms
according to their natural relationships
Organisms are placed into particular groups that
are more similar to each other than they are to
organisms in other groups
Starts with broad groups and becomes more specific
the closer you get to an individual organism
Used by scientists to assign a universally accepted
name to an organism
Common Names
Everyday names given to
organisms
Examples: beaver, mule
deer, black bear
Can differ among
regions
Not the best way for
scientists in different
areas to communicate
about organisms
Do not always describe
organism: mule deer are
not related to mules,
jellyfish are not fish, etc.
Linnaeus’ Classification
Carl Linnaeus (1707 –
1778) developed the
classification system still
used today
Developed hierarchical
categories
Each category is called a
taxon
Categories based on
structural similarities
Also developed binomial
nomenclature (scientific
names)
Binomial Nomenclature
Scientific name of an
organism
Made up of the genus
and the species
names of an
organism
Based on the Latin
and Greek languages
Example: Whitetail
deer
Genus: Odocoileus
Species: virginianus
Scientific name:
Odocoileus virginianus
The first letter of the
genus is always
capitalized
The species usually
describes where the
animal lives
Hierarchical Categories
Linnaeus’ system
consists of levels
(taxons)
As you go down each
level, organisms
become more and
more similar to each
other
Hierarchical Categories
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
King
Philip
Came
Over
For
Great
Spaghetti
Hierarchical Categories
Kingdom
Largest and most inclusive category
Linnaeus only named Animalia and Plantae
Phylum
Made up of similar Classes
Class
Made up of similar Orders
Order
Made up of similar Families
Hierarchical Categories
Family
Made up of similar Genera (plural of genus)
Genus
Made up of similar species
Species
Unique name for the species
Hierarchical Categories
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Mammalia
Order – Artiodactyla
Family – Cervidae
Genus – Odocoileus
Species – virginianus
Notes Review
Describe binomial nomenclature
Scientific name of an organism
Made up of the genus and the species names
of an organism
Notes Review
Explain Linnaeus’ system of
classification
Linnaeus’ system consists of levels (taxons)
As you go down each level, organisms
become more and more similar to each other