Components of

TAXONOMY
 DEFINITION OF TAXONOMY

• The Term taxonomy is derived from Greek words -

“taxis” meaning arrangement, and “nomos”
meaning law.

• It was first proposed in 1813 by Augustin Pyramus

de Candolle.
 DEFINITION OF TAXONOMY

• Taxonomy - It is the science of grouping

biodiversity into species,describing the
species, and classifying this diversity into
higher-level taxa that reflect evolutionary
history.
 WHAT IS TAXONOMY
Components of Taxonomy

• Classification
• Identification
• Nomenclature
 WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
• Classification is a hypothesis concerning how organisms
or taxa are related.

• The process of identifying the organisms to classified

based upon their similarities and differences.
 WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
• Taxonomy’s first father was the philosopher
Aristotle sometimes called “father of science”.

• Aristotle was the first to attempt to classify all the

kinds of animals in his history of animals.
 WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
• He grouped the types of creatures according to thier
similarities:
(animals with blood, animals without blood, animals that live
on water, animals live on land.)

• he assumed that creatures could be grouped in order

from lowest to highest, with the human species being the
highest. He interpreted as “ladder of nature’ or “Great
chain of being”.
 WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
• The Classification system hierarchical

i. The levels of organization are DOMAIN, KINGDOM,

PHYLUM, CLASS, ORDER, FAMILY, GENUS, and
SPECIES. Each of these levels is called taxon.
WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
 WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION
WHY IS A SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
NEEDED?

• Organize species into groups and discuss them.

• Identify new organisms.
• Show relationship between organisms.
KINGDOMS
 MONERA
• The term “Monera” is less
commonly used today, as
it historically included both
bacteria and archaea.
Bacteria are now typically
classified seperated.
 PROTISTA
• unicellular or multicellular
• eukaryotic
• cell walls made of varying
materials
• autotroph or heterotroph
• about 50,000 species
• reproduces-asexually
• examples include:
-Euglena
-Amoeba
 FUNGI
• unicellular or multicellular
• Eukaryotic
• heterotrophic
• cells walls made of chitin
• rroduces-asexually
• 100,000 species
• including:toadstools,
mushrooms, puffballs,
rusts or smut.
 PLANTAE
• mutlicellular
• eukaryotic
• autotrophic
• can reproduce oth ways
• cell walls made of cellulose
• all but a few are land dwellers.
350,000 species
• including: mosses, ferns,
conifer, flower plants.
 ANIMALIA
• multicellular
• eukaryotic
• heterotroph
• no cell walls
• reproduces sexually by
meiosis
• all animals have some type
of symmetry
IDENTIFICATION
 WHAT IS IDENTIFICATION
• Identification is the practical side of taxonomy.
• The assigning of an existing name to an unknown
organism.
• The method of determining that a specific
(organism) belongs to a recognized taxon.
• The procedure of nomenclature or naming is only
possible if the organism is properly characterize.
 WHAT IS IDENTIFICATION
• Identification using taxonomic keys

Taxonomic keys

• Dichotomous keys
• Bracket keys
• Indented keys
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
 DICHOTOMOUS KEY
• Is an important scientific tool, used to identify
different organisms, based the organism’s
observable traits

• Consist of a series of statements with two

choices in each step that will lead users the
correct identification.
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
 DICHOTOMOUS KEY
• Dichotomous keys are very useful
because they allow non-expert users to
identify organisms by directing them to look at
the known, important organisms.
NOMENCLATURE
 NOMENCLATURE
• Taxonomy is a fundamental tool in the field of biology, enabling scientists
to systematically organize, study, and communicate about the vast array
of life form on our planet.

Importance of a Standardized Naming System

Standardized naming system in taxonomy is vital for promoting clarity,
accuracy, and consistency in the classification and naming of organisms. It
is forms the foundation for global scientific collaboration, biodiversity
research, and conversation efforts.

• Nomenclature – naming of organism.

• Carl linnaeus (1707-1778)
A swedish naturalist.

• Devised a two partnaming

system known as binomial
nomenclature.
• Binomial Nomenclature

“Binomial” means “two names,” and two names

can defined by “genus and difference.” the
“genus” comes from the Greek root for “birth,”
and among its meanings are “family” and
“race.”
 Binomial nomenclature
• Use the genus capitalized, and the species is not
capitalized but both of them should be italicize.
ex. Castor canadensis or C. canadensis
• The species name is not capitalized and cannot be used
alone. e.g., C. canadensis.

Taxonomists are required to use Latin because the

language is no longer used in conversation and, therefore,
does not change.
 Binomial Naming
Genus + Species
Name
Common name: Lion Common name: Human
Genus Species
Scientific Name: Panthera leo Scientific name: Homo sapiens

Domain: Eukarya Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Phylum: Chordates
Class: Mammalia Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora Order: Primates
Family: Felidae Family: Hominids
Genus: Panthera Genus: Homo
Species: leo Species: sapiens
 RULES OF BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE
• Name are consisting of two words (genus and specific
epithet.)
• Both words in a biological name, if handwritten,
separately underlined.
• Genus name is written first followed by specific epithet
and then name of the discoverer in full or in abbreviation.
• Specific epithet begins with a small letter.
• Scientific name is printed or written in italic.
 Rules of Nomenclature

International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN)

• ICN is primarily use in the fields of botany, mycology, and phycology.
• It provides rules for naming and classifying plants, fungi, and algae.
• Key principles include the use of Latin names, the requirement for a unique
and stable name for each taxon, and priority of publication to determine the
correct name.
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
• ICZN governs the naming and classification of animals.
• It establishes rules for the scientific names of animals, including, insects,
mammals, birds, and more.
• Like the ICN, it emphasize the use of Latin names, priority in naming, and
stability of names.
 CONCLUSION
• Taxonomy is the science of naming,
describing, and classifying species and
includes all plants, animals, and
mircrobes.
Thank you for Listening!!