Classification
1. Introduction to Classification
Classification is the process of grouping living organisms based on similarities and differences. It
helps scientists to:
Organize and identify organisms
Understand evolutionary relationships
Communicate biological information more effectively
2. The Need for Classification
Living organisms are incredibly diverse. Classification helps to:
Simplify the study of living things
Predict characteristics shared by members of a group
Identify new species based on shared traits
3. The Five Kingdoms
According to the five-kingdom system, all organisms are classified into five broad groups:
Kingdom Examples Key Features
Prokaryotes Bacteria No nucleus, unicellular, small
Protoctists Amoeba, Paramecium Mostly unicellular, nucleus present
Fungi Yeast, Mould, Mushrooms Cell walls (not cellulose), no chlorophyll, saprophytic
Plants Ferns, Mosses, Flowering plants Multicellular, cell walls of cellulose, chlorophyll
Animals Insects, Birds, Mammals Multicellular, no cell wall, heterotrophic
4. Binomial Nomenclature (Naming Organisms)
Developed by Carl Linnaeus:
Each organism has a two-part name: Genus species (e.g., Homo sapiens)
Genus starts with a capital letter; species starts with a lowercase letter
Names are italicized or underlined if handwritten
This universal naming system avoids confusion
5. Hierarchy of Classification
Organisms are classified into a series of ranks:
Domain > Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species
Mnemonic: “Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup”
6. Features of Major Groups of Organisms
A. Plants
1. Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)
Monocotyledons (Monocots)
o One seed leaf
o Parallel leaf veins
o Fibrous roots
o Floral parts in multiples of 3
Dicotyledons (Dicots)
o Two seed leaves
o Net-like veins
o Tap root system
o Floral parts in multiples of 4 or 5
2. Non-Flowering Plants
Ferns: Have roots, stems, fronds, and reproduce via spores
B. Animals
1. Vertebrates (Phylum: Chordata)
Group Key Features
Fish Scales, fins, gills, cold-blooded
Amphibians Moist skin, live in water and land, external fertilization
Reptiles Dry scaly skin, cold-blooded, lay eggs
Birds Feathers, beaks, warm-blooded, lay hard-shelled eggs
Mammals Hair/fur, mammary glands, live births (mostly), warm-blooded
2. Invertebrates
Group Key Features
Arthropods Segmented body, exoskeleton, jointed legs
Insects (3 body parts, 6 legs)
Arachnids (2 body parts, 8 legs)
Crustaceans (5+ pairs of legs, hard shell)
Myriapods (many legs, e.g., centipedes)
Molluscs | Soft body, often with shell, e.g., snail, octopus
Annelids | Segmented worms, e.g., earthworm
C. Fungi
No chlorophyll
Feed by extracellular digestion (saprophytic)
Reproduce via spores
Cell walls made of chitin
D. Bacteria
Prokaryotic, no true nucleus
Very small
Can be beneficial or pathogenic
E. Viruses (Non-living)
Not considered living cells
Consist of a protein coat and genetic material (DNA or RNA)
Need a host to reproduce
Cause diseases (e.g., HIV, influenza)
7. Use of Dichotomous Keys
A tool to identify organisms using a series of paired statements.
Each step offers two contrasting choices
Leads to the correct identification of the organism
Example:
1a. Organism has feathers → Go to 2
1b. Organism does not have feathers → Go to 3
(… and so on)
8. Differences Between Similar Groups
Comparison Insects vs. Arachnids
Body Segments 3 (head, thorax, abdomen) vs. 2 (cephalothorax, abdomen)
Legs 6 vs. 8
Comparison Insects vs. Arachnids
Antennae Present in insects; absent in arachnids
Wings Often present in insects; never in arachnids
9. Importance of Classification
Assists in biodiversity studies
Enables identification of harmful vs. beneficial species
Helps in tracking evolutionary history
