Classification Science 7th grade

The importance of scientific names

Without both of the scientific names, the organism cannot be classified. For example, the Chameleon, a type of cactus, and a type of flower all have the same species name (gracilis). Without the genus name, scientists cannot differentiate between the three organisms.

Naming the Species

Scientists use two names to name or classify

an organism: its genus and species name. A

genus is a group of species that have related

attributes. (Example: the genus Ursus is used

to classify bears.) The species name is used

to classify the organism with more detail. (What

type of bear: polar, grizzly, black, etc.)

9.2-Biologists use seven

levels of classification

The Human classification:

The Seven Levels of Classification

• Kingdom- Animalia
• Phylum- Chordata
• Class- Mammalia
• Order- Primates
• Family- Hominidae
• Genus- Homo*
• Species- sapiens*

Binomial Nomenclature

There are seven levels that describe a species.

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus,

and Species. From Kingdom to Species, the set of organisms continue to get smaller. Kingdom being

the broadest, and species being the most specific. If

scientists want to compare different organisms, they

can, because of this organized way of breaking down

different species.

The system of naming species is called

binomial nomenclature. In Latin, binomial

means "two names" and nomenclature means

"list of names". So, the word binomial nomenclature

is defined as "a system of naming something using

two names.

Carolus Linnaeus

Carolus Linnaeus created the system for

scientifically naming species and organizing

them into groups. He named about 4000

species! Most of the species were plants and

animals. Today, scientists have named over

a million species!

You can remember the order like this:

• Kings
• Play
• Chess
• On
• Fat
• Green
• Stools