DIVERSITY OF LIFE

Taxonomy- the science of classifying and

naming organisms.
Aristotle- the father of Biology started the
science of classifying organisms.
Carolus Linnaeus or Karl von Linne-
considered as the father of Taxonomy
 SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
1. Artificial system of Classification
grouping of organisms based on superficial
resemblances; does not show the real
relationships of organisms.
e.g. animals with shells are grouped together.
2. Natural System of Classification
based on evolutionary relationships of organisms.
Started by Carolus Linnaeus
e.g. classification of animals based on their
embryonic development
 NAMING OF ORGANISMS

Nomenclature- system of naming organisms; also

dates back from the time of Linnaeus.
Binomial Nomenclature- system of naming
organism which is composed of two names; derived
from the Genus and species names of the organism.
Scientific name or binomial name- is the universal
name of the organism.
e.g. Felis domestica (scientific name of domesticated
cat)
Homo sapiens (scientific name of man)
SOME RULES IN BINOMIAL
NOMENCLATURE
An organism is given an scientific name which is in latin and
composed of genus name and species name.
Only the first letter of the genus name is capitalized; the rest
of the letters of the genus name and species name are in
small case letters.
The scientific name is italized or underlined
e.g. Cannis familiaris or Cannis familiaris (Scientific name
of dog)
the first scientific name publishd becomes the valid name
and the rest are just synonyms.
No scientific name prior to those included in the 10th volume
of Linnaeus book Systema Naturae are recognized.
 LEVELS OF CLASSIFICATION
There are seven basic categories of taxa or ranks
Kingdom
Phylum/ Division
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Note: Kingdom is the highest level of classification while
Species is the lowest level of classification. Phylum is used
for Kingdom Animalia and Kingdom Protista while Division is
used for Kingdom Plantae, Fungi and Monera.
 Note: each taxon/ category/ rank is contained within the level
above it.

Therefore;

Species- smallest unit of classification

- group of organisms that is isolated
reproductively from other similar
groups.
Genus- a group of related species
Family- a group of related genera
Order- a group of related families
Class- a group of related orders
Phylum/Division- a group of related classes
Kingdom a group of related phylum/division.
 The major basic classification is
homology (similarity)
It maybe:
1. Homology in structure/ appearance
e.g. organisms with jointed legs are grouped together
2. Homology in the number of chromosomes
e.g. organisms belonging to the same species have the
same number of chromosomes.
3. Homology in function
e.g. animals with backbones also have insulin- secreting
cells.
4. Homology in chemical composition.\
e.g. turkeys and pigeons differ by 4 amino acids.
Turkeys and turtles differ by 8 amino acids.
FIVE- KINGDOM CLASSIFICATION SHEME (introduced by
Robert H. Whitaker)

Based on the following criteria:

1. Type of cells
Prokaryotic cells- without true nucleus or nucleus not bounded
by nuclear membrane.
Eukaryotic cells- with true nucleus/ nuclei or the nucleus is
bounded with a nuclear membrane.
2. Number of cells
Unicellular- composed of one cell
Multicellular- composed of many cells
3. Modes of nutrition
Photosynthetic- can manufacture their own food.
Absorptive- absorb or take in food in assimilated form.
Ingestive- swallow their own food in whole.
SURVEY OF THE MAJOR GROUPS
OF ORGANISMS
Kingdom Monera
Kingdom Protista
Kingdom Fungi
Kingdom Plantae
Kingdom Animalia
Kingdom Monera
Prokaryotic
organisms
Unicellular although
some members may
group to from a
colony or a filament.
Some forms are
absorptive and some
are photosynthetic.
Examples: bacteria,
blue-green algae
Kingdom Protista
Eukaryotic organisms
Unicellular, with
some colonial forms.
Some forms are
absorptive, some are
ingestive and some
are photosynthetic.
Examples: amoeba,
paramecium,
euglena
 Volvox
Spirogyra

Paramecium Amoeba
Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium falciparum

Entamoeba histolytica
Kingdom Fungi
Eukaryotic organisms
Multicellular
Absorptive type of
nutrition (they lack
chlorophyll)
Reproduce by means
of spores
Non-motile
Examples:
mushrooms, yeasts,
molds.
Botilus edulis Cantharellus cibarius

Psilocybe mushrooms Lactarius salmonicolor

Kingdom Plantae
Eukaryotic organisms
Multicellular
Photosynthetic
Primarily non-motile
DIVISIONS
Thallophyta- plants which are not divided
into roots, stems, leaves; plant body is
called thallus
1. Division Chlorophyta green algae
2. Division Phaeophyta brown algae
3. Division Rhodophyta red algae
 Green algae

Red algae Brown algae

 Embryophyta plants with roots, stems and
leaves.
1. Division Bryophyta- ex. Liverworts,
hornworts and mosses.
2. Division Tracheophyta vascular plants.
Class Filicinae ferns
Class Angiospermae flower-bearing plants
Class Gymnospermae cone-bearing plants
Mosses
hornworts
 Liverworts

Lunularia cruciata
Plagiochila asplenioides
Ferns
Flower-bearing plants
Cone-bearing plants
Kingdom Animalia
true multicellular animals are typically
without cellulose cell walls and
photosynthetic pigments.
Eukaryotic organisms.
Ingestive type of nutrition.
Primarily motile
Some animal Phyla
Phylum Porifera sponges
Phylum Coelenterata corals, jellyfish, sea anemones
Phylum Platyhelminthes flatworms (flukes and tapeworms)
Phylum Nematoda Roundworms (Ascaris)
Phylum Annelida- segmented worms (leeches, earthworms,
marine worms, etc.)
Phylum Mollusca soft-bodied organisms (shells, clams, snails,
squids, octopuses, nautiluses, etc.)
Phylum Arthropoda jointed-legged animals (crabs, shrimps,
lobsters, insects, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, scorpions)
Phylum Echinodermata spiny-skinned animals ( sea urchins,
sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars
Phylum Chordata animals with backbone (fishes, amphibians,
reptiles, aves and mammals.
Sponge (Porifera)
Coral (coelenterate)

Jellyfish (coelenterate) Sea anemone (coelenterate)

Platyhelminths (flatworms)
Roundworms

Trichiuris trichiura
(whipworm)
Ascaris

Necator
Annelids
earthworm

polychaetes leeches
Mollusks
Squid
Snail

Nautilus
Octopus
Mollusks
Arthropods
Arthropods
Dragonfly

Butterfly

Damselflies
Arthropods
Echinoderms
Sea urchin Sea urchin

Sea star Sea stars

Echinoderms
Brittle stars Brittle star

San dollars
Sea cucumber
Chordates

A tunicate (urochordate) A lancelet or amphioxus

(cephalochordate)
Chordates
Chordates