Method 3: Taxonomic table Application of taxonomic classification Classification of an animal by its scientific name
From the simple jellyfish to the highly organized apes, the animal kingdom amazes us with a huge variety of living organisms. It is estimated that there are 9-10 million unique animal species on Earth. To make sense of such a bewildering array of diverse organisms, biologists use a classification system that includes tiered ranks that group animals together based on their similarities. A little practice and this system will seem very simple to you. Start with the first step.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Taxonomic Table
- 1 The modern system of classification of living organisms is based on principles that were developed in the 18th century by the botanist Carl Linnaeus, and contains seven taxonomic ranks (taxa). In exceptional cases, some of these ranks may include internal subsections. However, usually when biologists talk about taxonomic ranks, they identify seven "major" taxa, which are listed in a table from broadest to narrowest. Please note that the titles in the "Examples" column are written different colors, to give an idea of how the three organisms chosen as examples are correctly classified at different taxonomic levels.
| Kingdom | Largest taxonomic groups. Divide living organisms into broad, unifying categories. | Animals, Plants, Bacteria |
| Type | Large taxonomic units that include members of a kingdom united by a certain similar structural or genetic common characteristic. | Chordata, Angiosperms, Proteobacteria |
| Class | An average taxonomic unit, including representatives of the same type, united by a narrower characteristic, for example, body structure, common ancestry, and so on. | Mammals, Dicotyledons, Gammaproteobacteria |
| Squad | A group of organisms of the same class, united on the basis of body structure, certain external characteristics, or common ancestor. The common name for a group of animals often coincides with this taxonomic rank. For example, we call all representatives of the order Primates “monkeys.” | Primates, Rosaceae, Enterobacteriaceae |
| Family | A rather narrow group of organisms that unites organisms that are similar in appearance and have related origins. Family names often end it "ae". | Apes, Pink, Enterobacteriaceae |
| Genus | A special group of organisms that includes closely related members of the same family. All members of the same genus are usually descendants of one common ancestor. The genus name forms the first part of the scientific name of the organism. | Man, Raspberry, Stick |
| View | The narrowest taxonomic unit. Species division is based on the identification of a narrow, specific group of organisms that usually have the same structure. “Individuals of the same species are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.” The species name forms the second part of the scientific name of the organism. | intelligent, rosefolia, intestinal |
Method 2 of 3: Application of taxonomic classification
Method 3 of 3: Classifying an animal by its scientific name
The animal world, past and present, does not inhabit the globe as many individual organisms. Organisms are connected with each other into natural groupings called species, and species constitute higher groupings called systematic categories, which are subordinated to each other in a coherent system - the classification of animals. The department of zoology that deals with the classification of the animal world is called taxonomy.
Systematics distributes animal organisms into groups depending on the degree of similarity or difference between them and thus builds a system of the animal world. When constructing a system, modern taxonomy takes into account not individual characteristics, but their complex, not only the external form, but also internal structure, physiology, development, and sometimes ecology and distribution of animals. Thus, systematics is a synthetic science based on the achievements of other zoological disciplines.
The importance of systematics is great both theoretically and practically. Theoretically, it is important in that it builds a natural system that reflects the connections existing in nature and historical development(evolution) of the animal world. In practice, it is important because without uniting animals into a system it is impossible to understand their diversity.
The unit of taxonomy is the species. One species is a collection of individuals that are similar to each other, have a common origin, interbreed freely and produce fertile offspring.
Typically, individuals belonging to various types, do not interbreed or produce infertile offspring, but numerous exceptions are known to this rule. Interspecific crossing is used both in animal husbandry and in crop production to improve breeds and varieties.
Close species are united into genera (genus), and each known species has a double name, the first is generic and the second is specific, and these names are given according to the generally accepted international rule in Latin. The wolf, for example, has the following name - Canis lupus. This method of designating animals (this fully applies to plants) is called double, or binary, nomenclature.
Close genera are united into families (familia), families into orders (ordo), orders into classes (classis) and classes into types (typus). Sometimes the system is complicated by the fact that it is necessary to use intermediate groups - subtypes, subclasses, suborders, etc. The genus of cats (Felis), together with the genera of lynxes (Lynx), leopards (Pardus) and some others, are united in the cat family (Felidae). This family, together with the families of canids (Canidae), mustelids (Mustelidae), bears (Ursidae) and some others, is united in the order of carnivores (Carnivora). This order, together with other orders - ungulates, pinnipeds, rodents, primates and others form the class of mammals (Mammalia). This class, together with the classes of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and cyclostomes, form the subphylum of vertebrates (Vertebrata), which is included, together with the subtypes of skullless and larval chordates, in the phylum of chordates (Chordata).
Thus, the relationship between the main systematic categories is presented in the following form:
In addition to systematic categories above the species (genus, family, etc.), there are smaller ones within the species, subspecies for wild animals and breeds for domestic animals.
In it, as in the classification of plants, the basic unit is view. A species is a group of individuals that have the same structure and life processes and are capable of freely interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Animal species are grouped into childbirth , childbirth - in families , families - in squads , squads - in classes, and classes - in types. Let's look at some examples.
The birds you often call crows are actually different types: this is a jackdaw, raven, rook, gray crow. All listed species are united in the genus Corvus. Close “relatives” of representatives of the Corvus genus are birds belonging to the Soroka genus, the Soyka genus, and the Kedrovka genus. These genera form the family Corvidae.
Which order does the Corvidae family belong to? Corvids, together with the families of Tits, Swallows, Finches, Buntings and many other families, are united in the order Passeriformes. Numerous representatives of this detachment are well known to you. Relatives of passeriformes are representatives of the order Owls, the order Anseriformes, Pelicanidae and other orders that also belong to the class Birds.
The class Birds is part of the phylum Chordata; it includes several other classes. Among them are the class Mammals (dogs, dolphins, elephants, mice), the class Amphibians (frogs, salamanders), the class Reptiles (snakes, lizards, crocodiles), the class Bony fish (perch, sturgeon, bream, herring).
In addition to the Chordata type, scientists distinguish the Arthropod type (spiders, insects, crabs), the Mollusc type (squid, snails, mussels), the Annelid type (earthworm, leeches), the Coelenterate type (anemones, coral polyps) and about twenty other types of animals. . All of them are united in the kingdom Animals.
Consider the diagram. It shows the close and distant “relatives” of the jackdaw, crow, rook and gray crow. It is clear that the diagram shows only a small part of the animals that are related to the Corvus genus.
So, in the system of the Animal kingdom, any animal occupies a certain place, in other words, it has its own “systematic address”. For the gray crow it is as follows: Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Birds, order Passeriformes, family Corvidae, genus Corvus, species Gray Crow.
We considered only the main systematic groups of animals, or, as scientists also call them, systematic categories. The classification uses additional categories (subkingdoms, subtypes, superclasses, etc.). For example, the kingdom Animals is divided into two subkingdoms: Multicellular and Protozoa (unicellular). The superclass Pisces consists of several classes: among them is the class Bony fish and the class Cartilaginous fish. Material from the site
On this page there is material on the following topics:
An example of close and distant relatives among animals
Close relatives among animals classification
Classification scheme for arthropods order.type genus.species
Classification of animal subkingdoms scheme
Family genus species examples of distant and close relatives among animals
Questions about this material:
Which statement is correct: “The rook and the raven belong to the same species of animals” or “The rook and the raven belong to the same order of animals”?