Background of the Classification System
![Picture](/uploads/9/6/4/5/96451706/591400449.png?250)
The classification is the system used by biologists to group organisms so it is easier to classify them. This system was founded by the man named Aristotle, who was influenced by Linnaeus who popularised the idea of binomial nomenclature using a two-part name that indicated the animals genus and species. There is another name for the biological classification system which is called taxonomy. It is a science that has been changing over time but at some point principles were adopted and it is not rare for different scientists to use different methods. Animals are classified into groups based on their traits.
![Picture](/uploads/9/6/4/5/96451706/linnean-classification-system-full-size-landscape.jpg?250)
Guidelines for Classification:
Animals are classified into levels. The first level is broad and the last one narrows it down to just one animal. Life comes first which is everything that is living. Then there's domain that includes Archaea , bacteria and Eukarya . There are seven different levels after the domain which are Kingdom,Phylum, Class, Order,Family, Genus and Species.
Kingdom: Kingdom is the group that comes after domain. There are six kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Archaea and Bacteria.
Phylum: Phylum comes before class and after kingdom in the system. There are approximately 35 kingdoms in kingdom Animalia, Plantae contains 12 and Fungi has 7.
Class: class fits between phylum and order. The composition of each class is determined by a taxonomist. A taxonomist is a biologist that groups organisms into categories. There are no hard rules for them to follow but they are likely to be consensus for well known animals.
Order: It is a taxonomy used in classification of organisms and recognized by the nomenclature codes. It fits between class and family.
Family: A family comes between order and genus and can be divided into subfamilies, which are intermediate ranks above the rank of genus.
Genus: Genus is the second last domain. The genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.
Species: it is the last domain. Species are large groups of organisms that can produce fertile offsprings. Another definition is that they have similar DNA,morphology or ecological niche.
Animals are classified into levels. The first level is broad and the last one narrows it down to just one animal. Life comes first which is everything that is living. Then there's domain that includes Archaea , bacteria and Eukarya . There are seven different levels after the domain which are Kingdom,Phylum, Class, Order,Family, Genus and Species.
Kingdom: Kingdom is the group that comes after domain. There are six kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Archaea and Bacteria.
Phylum: Phylum comes before class and after kingdom in the system. There are approximately 35 kingdoms in kingdom Animalia, Plantae contains 12 and Fungi has 7.
Class: class fits between phylum and order. The composition of each class is determined by a taxonomist. A taxonomist is a biologist that groups organisms into categories. There are no hard rules for them to follow but they are likely to be consensus for well known animals.
Order: It is a taxonomy used in classification of organisms and recognized by the nomenclature codes. It fits between class and family.
Family: A family comes between order and genus and can be divided into subfamilies, which are intermediate ranks above the rank of genus.
Genus: Genus is the second last domain. The genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.
Species: it is the last domain. Species are large groups of organisms that can produce fertile offsprings. Another definition is that they have similar DNA,morphology or ecological niche.
Three Domains: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya
Characteristics of Domains:
Bacteria: Bacteria are prokaryotic cells but their membranes are made of unbranched fatty acid chains attached to glycerol by ester linkages. They are one of the first forms to appear on earth. They grow in soil, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, water and deep in Earth’s crust. They lack membrane-bound organelles. They come in small sizes and have unicellularity and therefore division by binary fission.
Archaea: Archaea are prokaryotic cells which are typically characterised by membrane lipids that are branched hydrocarbon chains attached to glycerol by ether linkages. This allows them to withstand extreme temperatures and highly acidic conditions. They have cell walls but lack peptidoglycan, which differentiates them from bacteria. They also have ether bonds connecting fatty acids to molecules of glycerol.
Eukarya: These organisms are eukaryotic cells, or consist of them, which have membranes that are similar to those of bacteria. Not all of them have a cell wall, and even the ones that do, the walls do not contain peptidoglycan, which bacteria have. While cells are organized into organs and tissues in kingdom Plantae and Animalia, still no cell walls are sound in animal cells.
Bacteria: Bacteria are prokaryotic cells but their membranes are made of unbranched fatty acid chains attached to glycerol by ester linkages. They are one of the first forms to appear on earth. They grow in soil, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, water and deep in Earth’s crust. They lack membrane-bound organelles. They come in small sizes and have unicellularity and therefore division by binary fission.
Archaea: Archaea are prokaryotic cells which are typically characterised by membrane lipids that are branched hydrocarbon chains attached to glycerol by ether linkages. This allows them to withstand extreme temperatures and highly acidic conditions. They have cell walls but lack peptidoglycan, which differentiates them from bacteria. They also have ether bonds connecting fatty acids to molecules of glycerol.
Eukarya: These organisms are eukaryotic cells, or consist of them, which have membranes that are similar to those of bacteria. Not all of them have a cell wall, and even the ones that do, the walls do not contain peptidoglycan, which bacteria have. While cells are organized into organs and tissues in kingdom Plantae and Animalia, still no cell walls are sound in animal cells.
![Picture](/uploads/9/6/4/5/96451706/published/529261747.png?1484858933)
Characteristics of 6 kingdoms:
Kingdom animalia includes organisms that are multicellular and are heterotrophs which means they depend on other organisms directly or indirectly for food.
Kingdom Plantae is made up of multi-cellular organisms that make their own food.
Kingdom Fungi is made of unicellular or multicellular organisms that produce familiar fruiting forms known as mushrooms.
Kingdom Protista includes organisms that can’t be classified as animals plants or fungus.
Kingdom Archaea includes organisms that have no nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles in their cells.
Kingdom bacteria includes organisms that lack a cell nucleus and are less complex.
Kingdom animalia includes organisms that are multicellular and are heterotrophs which means they depend on other organisms directly or indirectly for food.
Kingdom Plantae is made up of multi-cellular organisms that make their own food.
Kingdom Fungi is made of unicellular or multicellular organisms that produce familiar fruiting forms known as mushrooms.
Kingdom Protista includes organisms that can’t be classified as animals plants or fungus.
Kingdom Archaea includes organisms that have no nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles in their cells.
Kingdom bacteria includes organisms that lack a cell nucleus and are less complex.
Why are the systems used:
Each of these systems is used to classify an animal and to give it its scientific name. For example a mountain lion, puma, cougar and a panther are all the same animal but they have different names. With the classification system they are given one name in Latin. The name includes the genus and the species of the animal. This makes makes it easier for scientists to mistake the same animal for a another animal. With the system the mountain lion can be classified as one animal with its scientific or binomial name which is puma concolor. This is why the system was put into place so the same animal cannot be confused for another or so one animal cannot be confused for another. This way the animal gets its own identity and isn't classified as something else.
Each of these systems is used to classify an animal and to give it its scientific name. For example a mountain lion, puma, cougar and a panther are all the same animal but they have different names. With the classification system they are given one name in Latin. The name includes the genus and the species of the animal. This makes makes it easier for scientists to mistake the same animal for a another animal. With the system the mountain lion can be classified as one animal with its scientific or binomial name which is puma concolor. This is why the system was put into place so the same animal cannot be confused for another or so one animal cannot be confused for another. This way the animal gets its own identity and isn't classified as something else.