Classification of Animals

Chapter 1

Classification

• The process of grouping things based on their similarities.

• Biologists use classification to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study .

Aristotle

• First classification system

• Three major Classes– Fly– Swim– Walk, Crawl, or Run

Linnaeus- Binomial Nomenclature

• Each organism is given a two-part name• The first part of an organism’s scientific

name is its genus. A genus is a classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms.

• The second part of an organism’s scientific name is its species name. A species is a group of similar organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring in nature.

7 Levels of Classification

• Kingdom- broadest

• Phylum

• Class

• Order

• Family

• Genus

• Species- Most specific

Evolution

• The process by which species gradually change over time.

• Species with similar evolutionary histories are classified more closely together.