Biological Classification Vocabulary

58 vocabulary flashcards covering kingdoms, divisions, classes, and representative organisms across the domains of life.

Monera

Kingdom of prokaryotic, unicellular organisms that reproduce asexually.

Archaebacteria

Ancient autotrophic bacteria that thrive in extreme environments.

Rhizobium

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in plant roots.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria in the subkingdom Eubacteria.

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Streptococcus

Pathogenic bacteria that cause strep throat.

Protista (Protoctista)

Kingdom of eukaryotic organisms that are unicellular or simply multicellular.

Chlorophyta

Green-algae division that includes Caulerpa and Ulva.

Euglena

Flagellated, photosynthetic protist that is both plant-like and animal-like.

Phaeophyta

Brown-algae division that includes Sargassum and Laminaria.

Rhodophyta

Red-algae division that includes Porphyra and Gracillaria.

Chrysophyta

Algal division containing diatoms.

Amoeba

Unicellular protists that move using pseudopodia.

Paramecium

Cilia-bearing protists; classic example of ciliates.

Trypanosoma

Flagellated protozoans that cause African sleeping sickness.

Plasmodium vivax

Spore-forming protozoan that causes malaria.

Myxomycota

Division of slime molds.

Oomycota

Division containing water molds such as Saprolegnia.

Fungi

Kingdom of eukaryotic, spore-producing heterotrophs.

Zygomycota

Fungal division that includes bread mold (Rhizopus).

Ascomycota

Division of sac fungi that includes Penicillium.

Basidiomycota

Division of fungi that includes mushrooms and rusts.

Deuteromycota

Group of fungi with no known sexual phase (e.g., ringworm).

Lichen (Mycophycophyta)

Mutualistic organism composed of algae and fungi.

Bryophyta

Plant division that includes mosses.

Hepaticophyta

Plant division for liverworts such as Marchantia.

Psilophyta

Most primitive vascular plant division containing whisk ferns.

Lycophyta

Division containing club mosses like Lycopodium.

Sphenophyta

Vascular plant division that includes horsetails.

Pterophyta

Division of ferns with sori under the leaves.

Pinophyta

Division of cone-bearing plants (gymnosperms).

Cycadicae

Subdivision of gymnosperms with palm-like appearance.

Pinicae

Subdivision of gymnosperms that includes pine trees.

Magnoliophyta

Division of flowering plants (angiosperms).

Monocotyledonae

Angiosperms with parallel veins and a single cotyledon.

Dicotyledonae

Angiosperms with net-veined leaves and two cotyledons.

Porifera

Simple animals with pores and collar cells (sponges).

Cnidaria

Radial animals with stinging cells called nematocysts.

Planaria

Free-living flatworm capable of regeneration.

Schistosoma

Parasitic flatworm that causes schistosomiasis.

Ascaris

Roundworm that causes intestinal infection.

Oligochaeta

Segmented worms with setae, such as earthworms.

Hirudinea

Blood-sucking annelids that produce the anticoagulant hirudin.

Bivalvia (Pelecypoda)

Mollusk class that includes clams and mussels.

Cephalopoda

Class of mollusks with highly developed brains, e.g., octopus.

Insecta

Arthropod class with three pairs of legs and antennae.

Odonata

Order of insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies.

Lepidoptera

Order of insects with scaled wings like butterflies and moths.

Hymenoptera

Order of membrane-winged insects such as bees and ants.

Asteroidea

Echinoderm class that includes starfish.

Ophiuroidea

Echinoderm class that includes brittle stars.

Chordata

Phylum of animals possessing a notochord or backbone.

Chondrichthyes

Class of cartilaginous fish, including sharks.

Osteichthyes

Class of bony fish such as tilapia.

Amphibia

Class including frogs and toads.

Reptilia

Vertebrate class containing snakes, lizards, and turtles.

Aves

Class of birds, including eagles, ducks, and hummingbirds.

Mammalia

Class of milk-producing vertebrates (mammals).