Classification of Living Things and Taxonomy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the classification of living things, kingdoms, phyla, taxonomic nomenclature, and dichotomous identification keys.

Prokaryotes

Unicellular organisms whose chromosomes are not enclosed in a nucleus, representing the smallest organisms that have a cellular structure.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose chromosomes are enclosed in a nucleus, encompassing protoctists, fungi, animalia, and plantae.

Modern classification

A biological classification approach that utilizes DNA sequences to determine ancestry.

Protoctists

Unicellular organisms that display all the characteristics of life, including both algae and protozoa.

Algae

Protoctists that live mainly in aquatic environments (marine and fresh water) or damp land surfaces and create their own food through photosynthesis.

Protozoa

Unicellular organisms that feed on other organisms, with examples including amoeba and paramecium.

Fungi

Heterotrophic organisms ranging in size from unicellular yeasts to large toadstools that obtain their food from the environment and are used by humans for medicinal and dietary purposes.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds through flowers, divided into monocotyledons and dicotyledons.

Monocotyledons

A group of angiosperms characterized by possessing one cotyledon or seed leaf.

Dicotyledons

A group of angiosperms characterized by possessing two cotyledons or seed leaves.

Animal Kingdom

A kingdom consisting of multicellular, heterotrophic organisms.

Arthropods

Organisms belonging to the phylum Arthropoda that constitute over $90\%$ of the animal kingdom, distinguished by an external exoskeleton, a body divided into distinct parts, and jointed legs and appendages.

Molluscs

Invertebrates belonging to the phylum Mollusca that have adapted to terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats across the globe, including snails, slugs, clams, mussels, and octopi.

Chordates

Organisms that are mostly vertebrates possessing a distinguishing feature called a vertebral column, comprising fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Taxonomy

The science of classification that involves placing organisms into groups based on their similarities and/or differences.

Nomenclature

The naming of organisms based on species and genus, also known as biological naming.

The Binomial System

A universal naming system started by Carl Linneaus in which each organism receives two Latin names: a generic name (Genus) and a scientific name, avoiding confusion from local variations and common names.

Dichotomous key

A classification tool that identifies organisms by presenting a step-by-step series of paired questions, offering two answers per step until reaching the organism's name.

Dichotomous

A term meaning "divided into two parts."