Classification system

In the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus published a system for classifying living things, which has been developed
into the modern classification system. People have always given names to things that they see, including plants
and animals, but Linnaeus was the first scientist to develop a hierarchal naming structure that conveyed
information both about what the species was (its name) and also its closest relatives. The ability of the Linnean
system to convey complex relationships to scientists throughout the world is why it has been so widely adopted.
For those new to this system, it can be a challenge simply remembering these categories. Here's a mnemonic
referring to 16th-century Spanish exploration that might help: King Philip Came Over For Good and Soup.
How to Write a Scientific Name Correctly
Genus Name
1. The genus name is written first.
2. The genus name is always underlined or italicised.
3. The first letter of the genus name is always capitalized
Example: Astrophytum or Astrophytum
Specific Name
1. The specific epithet is written second.
2. The specific epithet is always underlined or italicised.
3. The first letter of the specific epithet name is never capitalized.
Example: myriostigma or myriostigma
Scientific Name - The scientific name of this plant would appear as follows:
Astrophytum myriostigma or Astrophytum myriostigma
The Six Kingdoms
When Linnaeus developed his system of classification, there were only two kingdoms,Plants and Animals. But
the use of the microscope led to the discovery of new organisms and the identification of differences in cells. A
two-kingdom system was no longer useful. Today the system of classification includes six kingdoms.
The Six Kingdoms:
The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is considered to be the most important distinction among
groups of organisms. Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus, while
prokaryotic cells do not. Differences in cellular structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes include the presence of
mitochondria and chloroplasts, the cell wall, and the structure of chromosomal DNA.
Prokaryotes:
Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
Archaebacteria
In 1983, scientists tool samples from a spot deep in the Pacific Ocean where hot gases and molten rock boiled
into the ocean form the Earths interior. To their surprise they discovered unicellular (one cell) organisms in the
samples. These organisms are today classified in the kingdom, Archaebacteria. Archaebacteria are found in

extreme environments such as hot boiling waterand thermal vents under conditions with no oxygen or highly
acid environments.Finding Archaebacteria: The hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, USA, were among the
first places Archaebacteria were discovered. The biologists pictured above are immersing microscope slides in
the boiling pool onto which some archaebacteria might be captured for study.
Eubacteria
Like archaebacteria, eubacteria are complex and single celled. Most bacteria are in the EUBACTERIA kingdom.
They are the kinds found everywhere and are the ones people are most familiar with. Eubacteria are classified in
their own kingdom because their chemical makeup is different. Most eubacteria are helpful. Some produce
vitamins and foods like yogurt. However, these eubacteria, Streptococci pictured above, can give you strep
throat!
Eukaryotes
Protista, Fungi, Plantae Animalia
Protists
Slime molds and algae are protists. Sometimes they are called the odds and ends kingdom because its members
are so different from one another. Protists include all microscopic organisms that are not bacteria, not animals,
not plants and not fungi. Most protists are unicellular. You may be wondering why those protists are not
classified in the Archaebacteria or Eubacteria kingdoms. It is because, unlike bacteria, protists are complex cells.
These delicate looking diatoms are classified in the protist kingdom.
Fungi
Mushrooms, mold and mildew are all examples of organisms in the kingdom fungi. Most fungi are multicellular
and consists of many complex cells. Some fungi taste great and others can kill you! Fungi are organisms that
biologists once confused with plants, however, unlike plants, fungi cannot make their own food. Most obtain
their food from parts of plants that are decaying in the soil.
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Fungi
Cell Type: Eukaryote
Cell Structures: Cell walls of CHITIN
Number of Cells: some unicellular,,MOST MULTICELLULAR
Mode of Nutrition: Heterotroph
Example: MUSHROOMS AND YEAST
Plants
You are probably quite familiar with the members of this kingdom as it contains all the plants that you have
come to know - flowering plants, mosses, and ferns. Plants are all multicellular and consist of complex cells. In
addition plants are autotrophs, organisms that make their own food. With over 250,000 species, the plant
kingdom is the second largest kingdom. Plant species range from the tiny green mosses to giant trees. Without
plants, life on Earth would not exist! Plants feed almost all the heterotrophs (organisms that eat other organisms)
on Earth.

The plant kingdom is divided into two taxa: Non- vascular plants (plants without a vascular system of xylem
and phloem) and vascular plants (plants with a vascular system of xylem and phloem).
The first division of plants is seen in vascular tissue, or tissue used to transport water and nutrients throughout a
plant. There are two types of vascular tissue: xylem and phloem. Xylem transports water and dissolved minerals,
while phloem transports food. Plants that do not have xylem and phloem are considered nonvascular. These
plants are small, simple and less advanced than most plants that you may think of.
Nonvascula: Mosses, liverworts and hornworts are the three main groups of nonvascular plants. They are all
small because there is no transport system to move required food and nutrients around in the plant. Also, these
nonvascular plants do not have roots but instead have rhizoids, which are little hairs that help anchor the plant.
Vascular plants (sometimes called higher plants) are divided into two subgroups: seedless and seeded.
1.

SEEDLESS: The seedless plants are the ferns. A simple description of a fern might be: a plant with
fronds that are attached to rhizomes. The frond is the leaf of the fern and the rhizome is a stem like a root
but with a variety of purposes. Most rhizomes grow and spread underground and many have actual roots
growing from them. The rhizomes hold soil in place as they spread out. They are vascular, which means
they transport nutrients throughout the plant through tubular structures. Ferns don't reproduce by seed.
Instead they have spores. Spores can be located on the underside of the fronds. Very often, they are
clusters of small brown dots that hold the microscopic reproductive structure of the plant.

2.

PLANTS WITH SEEDS: The seeded plants divides into two taxa, Gymnospermae
(Gymnosperms)and Angiospermae (Angiosperms). These make up most of the plants in the

landscape. These taxa divide into Divisions (or Phylum). Division names end in phyta. Examples of
phyla include Ginkgophyta (ginkgo), Pinophyta (conifers), and Magnoliophyta (flowering plants).
Gymnosperms (meaning naked seed) do not produce flowers, but rather produce seeds on the end of
modified bracts, such as pine cone. Many have scale or needle-like leaves. Arborvitae, junipers,
Douglas-fir, fir, pine, and spruce are examples of gymnosperms.
Agiosperms (Magnoliophyta or broadleaf flowering plants) produce seeds through flowering. Most
have broadleaf leaves. Angiosperms are divided into two taxa:monocotyledon (monocots)
and dicotyledon (dicots).

Examples

Grains, (wheat, corn, rice, millet) lilies, daffodils, sugarcane,

banana, palm, ginger, onions, bamboo, sugar, cone, palm
tree, banana tree, and grass are examples of plants that are
monocots.

Legumes (pea, beans, lentils,

peanuts) daisies, mint, lettuce,
tomato and oak are examples of
dicots.

Animals
The animal kingdom is the largest kingdom with over 1 million known species. All animals consist of many
complex cells. They are also heterotrophs. Members of the animal kingdom are found in the most diverse
environments in the world.
Domain: Eukaryotes
Kingdom: Animalia
Cell Type: Eukaryotes
Cell Structures: NO Cell walls and NO CHLOROPLASTS
Number of Cells: Multicellular
Mode of Nutrition: Heterotroph
Example: Sponges, worms, insects, fishes, mammals

Animal kingdom
The animals have been divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a backbone. The backbone is
the observable feature that defines whether the animal is a vertebrate or an invertebrate.
Invertebrates - animals without a backbone.
Vertebrates - animals with a backbone.
Kingdom Animalae (or Animalia) can be classified into two broad groups
Classifications of INVERTEBRATES
A.Sponges (Poriferans)
1. They belong to Phylum Porifera and mostly called sponges.
2. They mostly live in salty sea water fixed to some object.
3. Their body is covered with pores through which food enters.
4. One large pore is present at top of the body.
5. Example-Sycon,Spongilla.
B.Cnidarians.
1. They are aquatic animals having marine habitat.
2. Body is tube like with one opening called mouth.
3. Mouth is surrounded by tentacles used for capturing prey.
4. They have radially symmetrical body.
5. Example-Hydra, Jellyfish.

C. Platyhelminthes. (Flatworms)
1. They can be found in marine/fresh water.
2. They have flat,ribbon like body.
3. Body is bilaterally symmetrical
4. Body is having a single opening.
5. Most of them are parasites.
6. Example-Tapeworms, Liverfluke.
D.Nemathelminthes (Roundworms)
1.

Found in fresh/marine water or on land.

2. They have thread like ,rounded body

3. They have unsegmented body.
4. Body have two openings mouth and anus.
5. Body is bilaterally symmetrical.
6. Most of them are parasites and reproduce sexually by laying eggs.

7. Example-Pinworm, Ascaris.
E.Annelids (Segmented worms)
1. Found in marine and fresh water.
2. They have segmented bilaterally symmetrical body.
3. They have a body cavity.
4. They have special organs of excretion called Nephridia
5. Example-Earthworm , Leech.

F.Arthropods (Animals with jointed legs)

1. They have segmented bilaterally symmetrical body
2. Body is divided into three regions- Head ,Thorax and Abdomen.
3. Body has tough outer covering called exoskeleton
4. They have jointed appendages.
5. Further classified into four subgroups

Arachnids

1. Head and thorax fused.

Myriapods

2. Have four pair of legs .

1. Body divided into many segments.

3. Wings are absent.

2. Some have two pair of legs per segment

(millipede) while some have one pair of legs per
segment(Centipede)

4. Example -Scorpion, Spider

Crustaceans

3. Example -Millipedes and centipedes

1. Head and thorax fused

Insects.

2. Appendages present on all segments

1. Body is divided into head thorax and abdomen.

3. Have variable number of jointrd legs.

2. Most insects have three pair of legs,two pair of

wings.

4. Example -Shrimps,Lobster.

3. Some insects are wingless.

4. Example-Ants ,honeybee.

G. Molluscs (soft bodied shelled animals)

1. Animals have soft unsegmented body with an external hard shell.
2. Example-Squid,snail,octopus .

H. Echinoderms (Spiny-skinned animals) Example-Starfish,Sea urchins.

1. They are marine animals having spines all over the body.
2. Body has two openings mouth and anus.

3. They have tube like feet having sucker

Classifications of VERTEBRATES
MAMMALS

Warm blooded vertebrate animals which have hair or fur.

Retain the young in their bodies until they are ready to be born. When the young are born they are fed by
the mother on milk.
Mammals have a highly developed nervous system. They live on land and in the sea.
There is a very wide range of types in this group.
The largest mammal is the blue whale which often exceeds 30m in length. Shrews, mice and mice which
are the smallest are often less than 5cm, excluding their tail.
Human beings are mammals.

BIRDS
Warm blooded vertebrate animals with wings and bodies covered with feathers for warmth and to help
them to fly. Birds have lungs for breathing and a heart with four chambers.
All adult birds are covered in feathers even though some are born naked.
The female lays the eggs and the young hatch from these. The young are cared for by the adult birds
until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

REPTILES
Cold blooded vertebrates. This means they cannot maintain a body temperature much different than their
environment.
Most reptiles lay eggs with hard shells. Young fully formed reptiles hatch from the eggs. Reptiles
usually lay their eggs in sand.
Some snakes and lizards retain their eggs in their body and give birth to live young.
Young reptiles have to care for themselves from the time they hatch.
A reptile's skin is usually covered with scales.
Reptiles have been on earth for over 300 million years - that is a very long time!

AMPHIBIANS
Cold blooded vertebrate animals that generally spend their larval or tadpole stage in fresh water. They do
not transfer to the land until they are mature, returning to the water to breed.
Amphibians were the first animals to venture on to land. They emerged from the oceans over 300
million years ago. Frogs, toads and salamanders are amphibians.

FISH
Cold blooded vertebrate animals that live in water and use gills to obtain oxygen.
Fish live in both fresh and salt water and can be found all over the world, except in some very hot larval
springs and the Dead Sea because it is too salty.