| A | B |
|---|
| What is classification? | the grouping of living things by their similar characteristics (traits) |
| What are the 7 taxons (levels) of classification from largest, most general group to smallest, most specific group? | kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species |
| In binomial nomenclature, what two taxons make up the scientific name for an organism? | genus and species |
| Which taxon is always written first in a scientific name? | genus |
| Which taxon is always capitalized when writing a scientific name? | genus |
| Which taxon is written second in a scientific name? | species |
| Which taxon always begins with a lower case letter in a scientific name? | species |
| What is taxonomy? | the science of classification; the science of grouping organisms by similar traits |
| What is nomenclature? | the science of naming living and nonliving things |
| Which scientist is given credit for the modern system of naming and classifying organisms? | Carolus Linnaeus |
| What is binomial nomenclature? | the system, developed by Linnaeus, in which every living thing is given a two-part scientific name |
| What is the term for a level of classification? | taxon |
| What is a species? | a group of organisms that can interbreed (mate) and produce fertile offspring |
| What are offspring? | the young (babies) that result when an organism reproduces |
| What is the primary language of naming and classifying organisms? | Latin |
| Upon what did Linnaeus base his classification system? | structural similarities |
| What is the relationship between organisms who share many of the same taxons? | The more closely related these organisms are and the more likely they evolved from a common ancestor. |
| What are the four criteria for placing organisms into the same kingdom? | (1) cell structure (2) how the organism obtains energy (3) type of movement (4) type of reproduction |
| A taxonomic key is a way of identifying organisms based on ___. | physical characteristics |
| Which method of identifying organisms is designed to be used in the "field," or area where an organism naturally lives in the wild? | field guide |
| Which method of identifying organisms groups them according to standard classification criteria that have been arranged in a paired series of numbered steps? | taxonomic key |
| Which method of identifying organisms is a book that contains pictures and descriptions of each of the organisms listed in the book? | field guide |
| Which method of identifying organisms often groups them by color, size, geographic location, and/or behavior? | field guide |
| Which method of identifying organisms often refers to the organism by its scientific name? | taxonomic key |
| Which method of identifying organisms contains maps showing where an organism can be found during different seasons of the year? | field guide |
| Which method of identifying organisms shows the evolutionary relationship between organisms (to determine if the organisms being identified by the paired statements share a common ancestor)? | taxonomic key |
| What is the scientific term for a taxonomic key? | dichotomous key |
| What does the word dichotomous literally mean? | in two parts |
| When reading a taxonomic key, where do you start with each new organism? | Always begin with the first paired set of statements, usually written as 1a and 1b. |
| Once an organism or object has been identified using a taxonomic key, can its name be used again for other organisms or objects that relate to the same taxonomic key? | no |
| What is the scientific name for man? | Homo sapiens |
| What does the scientific name for man literally mean? | wise man |
| What does the term binomial nomenclature literally mean? | two-name naming |
| To what class of organisms does man belong? | the mammal class (Class Mammalia) |
| Which classification level contains organisms that are the most closely related? | species |
| Which classification level contains organisms that are the least related? | kingdom |
| Canis latrans and Canis lupus belong to the same ___, but different ___. | genus / species |
| The scientific name for the polar bear is Ursus maritimus. To what species does the polar bear belong? | maritimus |
| Two organisms that are in the same order will also belong to the same ___. | kingdom, phylum, and class |
| True or False - The smaller the taxonomic group, the more closely related the organisms belonging to the group. | True |
