37.3
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of defining and naming groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. It uses a hierarchy of increasingly inc…
Taxonomy, the science of naming groups of organisms based on shared characteristics, was first formally classified by Carolus Linnaeus in the 18th century.
He grouped organisms using a hierarchy of increasingly inclusive categories that are still used today. Similar species, the smallest unit of taxonomy, are grouped into the same genus.
For example, the Arctic hare and the jackrabbit are both grouped in the genus Lepus, but they have different species names. So they are named Lepus arcticus and Lepus californicus. This two-part format used to identify specific organisms is called binomial nomenclature.
Related genera belong to the same family. For example, hares and rabbits belong to Leporidae. This family shares the same order, Lagomorpha, with some other species, such as pikas.
These all belong to the class Mammalia, which includes animals characterized by mammary glands that produce milk, such as humans, polar bears, and squirrels.
Above class in the taxonomic hierarchy is the phylum. Vertebrate animals belong to the phylum Chordata, defined by the presence of a notochord, a flexible, rod-like structure found in chordate embryos. This phylum belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
Under modern classification, the highest taxonomic rank is the domain. One such domain, Eukarya, includes multiple kingdoms whose organisms have cells with a membrane-bound nucleus.
View the full transcript and gain access to JoVE Core videos
Q1: What is binomial nomenclature and how does it work?
Binomial nomenclature is a two-part naming system for organisms using genus and species names. The genus name is capitalized and italicized, while the species name is lowercase and italicized. For example, the Arctic hare is Lepus arcticus and the jackrabbit is Lepus californicus, allowing scientists to precisely identify and communicate about specific organisms.
Q2: How did Carolus Linnaeus organize the taxonomic hierarchy?
Carolus Linnaeus formalized taxonomy in the 18th century by creating a hierarchy of increasingly inclusive categories still used today. He organized organisms from smallest to largest units: species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, and domain. This hierarchical system allows scientists to classify all living organisms based on shared characteristics.
Q3: What distinguishes the class Mammalia from other vertebrate classes?
Mammalia is defined by the presence of mammary glands that produce milk to nourish offspring. This class includes diverse animals such as humans, polar bears, squirrels, platypuses, kangaroos, and goats. All mammals belong to the phylum Chordata and share this characteristic feature despite their varied appearances and habitats.
Q4: What is the relationship between genus and species in taxonomy?
Similar species are grouped together into the same genus, representing the smallest meaningful taxonomic unit. The Arctic hare and jackrabbit both belong to genus Lepus but have different species names—arcticus and californicus. This relationship forms the basis of binomial nomenclature, where genus and species together create a unique scientific name.
Q5: How do the three domains differ in cellular organization?
The domain Eukarya includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists with membrane-bound nuclei and organelles. Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotes—single-celled organisms lacking nuclei and other membrane-bound structures. These three domains represent the highest taxonomic ranks and reflect fundamental differences in cellular organization and complexity in living systems.
Q6: What characteristics define the phylum Chordata?
Phylum Chordata is defined by the presence of a notochord, a flexible, rod-like structure found in chordate embryos. All vertebrate animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, belong to this phylum. The notochord is a key structural feature that distinguishes chordates from other animal phyla.
Q7: How are hares, rabbits, and pikas related in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Hares and rabbits belong to the family Leporidae, while pikas belong to the family Ochotonidae. Despite different families, all three groups share the same order, Lagomorpha, and class, Mammalia. Pikas resemble hares and rabbits but have smaller, rounder bodies and no visible tail, illustrating how taxonomy groups organisms by both similarities and differences.