Classification and Food Chains Flashcards

Flashcards on Species, Hybrids, Taxonomy, Vertebrates, Invertebrates, Food Chains, and Trophic Levels

Species

A group of similar characteristic organisms that are able to reproduce fertile offspring.

Hybrid

When two species are able to reproduce infertile offspring.

Liger

A hybrid animal resulting from a Lion and a Tiger.

Tigon

A hybrid animal resulting from a Male Tiger and a Female Lion.

Wholphin

A hybrid animal resulting from a Whale and a Dolphin.

Zonkey

A hybrid animal resulting from a Zebra and a Donkey.

Grolar

A hybrid animal resulting from a Grizzly and a Polar Bear.

Jaglion

A hybrid animal resulting from a Male Jaguar and a Female Lion.

Taxonomy Hierarchy

A system for organizing living things based on shared characteristics.

Carl Linnaeus

The person who created the system to organize living things.

Taxonomy Hierarchy (Broadest to Specific)

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

Vertebrates

Organisms with a backbone.

Invertebrates

Organisms without a backbone.

Mammals

Vertebrates with mammary glands, fur or hair, give birth to live young (except platypus), and are warm-blooded.

Birds

Vertebrates with feathers and wings.

Reptiles

Vertebrates with dry scales that lay leathery eggs and are cold-blooded.

Amphibians

Vertebrates with moist skin that lay jelly-coated eggs and are cold-blooded.

Fish

Vertebrates with scales and fins that lay jelly-coated eggs.

Insects

Arthropods with 6 legs, antennae, and 3 body parts.

Arachnids

Arthropods with 8 legs and 2 body parts.

Food Chain

An energy chain.

Trophic Level

The position that an organism occupies in a food chain or food web.

Producer

Trophic Level 1. Examples: Plant, Algae, Seaweed, Plankton, Leaves, Flower

Primary consumer

Trophic Level 2. Examples: Caterpillar, Ants, Hamster, Krill

Secondary consumer

Trophic Level 3. Examples: Bird, Cats. Anteater, Rat, Fish, Jellyfish

Tertiary consumer

Trophic Level 4. Examples: Snakes, Cats, Big Fish, Jackal, Turtle

Top Predator

Trophic Level 5. Examples: Tiger, Hawk, Python, Lion, Polar Bear, Killer Whale

Biomass

The total dry mass of living organisms in each trophic level.