Biological Classification and Characteristics of Organisms

heterotrophic

unable to manufacture organic molecules from inorganic materials; must obtain organic molecules by ingestion or by absorption across the body surface

hypha

elongated, cylindrical cell type found in fungi

mantle

tissue that secretes the shell in molluscs

Mollusca

soft-bodied animals with a coelom and a mantle

Monera

prokaryotic organisms (e.g., bacteria and blue-green algae)

mycelium

mass of thread-like hyphae; forms body of a fungus

notochord

rod-shaped structure that provides support in chordates

Platyhelminthes

flatworms (e.g., tapeworms and planaria)

Porifera

sponges

Protista

unicellular eukaryotes

Pterophyta

seedless vascular plants

rhizome

an underground stem, helps to anchor the fern plant in the soil

seed

structure containing embryo and food source for developing plant

spirilla

spiral-shaped bacterial cells

spore

asexual reproductive cell, capable of producing a new individual by itself

sporangium

spore-bearing structure found in fungi

staphylo-

prefix used to describe bacteria that occur in clusters of cells

strepto-

prefix used to describe bacteria that occur in chains of cells

vascular tissue

specialized cells that provide structural support and internal transport in certain plants (e.g., ferns, conifers, and flowering plants)

Annelida

segmented worms with a coelom (e.g., earthworms and leeches)

Anthophyta

seed plants that form flowers

Arthropoda

animals with jointed appendages and an exoskeleton

autotrophic

able to manufacture organic molecules from inorganic materials

bacilli

rod-shaped bacterial cells

Bryophyta

non-vascular plants (e.g., mosses)

Chordata

animals with a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, and pharyngeal gill slits

classification

process of sorting objects into categories on the basis of similarities

Cnidaria

animals with specialized stinging cells that are used to capture food (e.g., jellyfish, anemones, and coral)

cocci

spherical bacterial cells

coelom

internal body cavity in certain animals

cone

reproductive organ in conifers, consisting of specialized leaves that bear reproductive structures (including seeds)

Coniferophyta

seed plants that form cones

diplo-

prefix used to describe bacteria that occur as pairs of cells joined together

Echinodermata

marine animals with 5-fold symmetry

exoskeleton

rigid outer covering of certain animals (e.g., arthropods and many molluscs)

flow chart

graphic representation of a classification procedure

lower

reproductive organ of anthophytes, consisting of specialized leaves for protection and pollinator attraction

Fungi

multicellular eukaryotes that obtain organic molecules by absorption across the body surface