Taxonomy
Q: What is taxonomy?
A: The science of classifying and naming organisms.
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Q: What is the correct order of major taxonomic ranks?
A: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
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Q: What mnemonic can help remember taxonomic ranks?
A: Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup.
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⭐ SECTION 2 — KINGDOMS OF LIFE
Q: What are the traditional six kingdoms?
A: Protists, Monerans, Fungi, Plants, Animals, Archaeans (when split).
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Q: Why is “Monerans” no longer used?
A: It is now usually divided into Bacteria and Archaea.
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Q: Why are Protists considered problematic as a group?
A: They are not a proper (monophyletic) group evolutionarily.
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⭐ SECTION 3 — PHYLOGENY VOCABULARY
Q: Define monophyletic group.
A: Contains a common ancestor and all of its descendants.
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Q: Define paraphyletic group.
A: Contains a common ancestor and some but not all descendants.
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Q: Define polyphyletic group.
A: A group made without including their most recent common ancestor.
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Q: Which type of group is considered “real” in evolutionary classification?
A: Monophyletic.
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⭐ SECTION 4 — MAJOR MARINE PHYLUM IDENTIFICATION
Porifera
Q: What does the term “Porifera” mean?
A: “Pore-bearers.”
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Q: Name three Porifera examples.
A: Sponges, tube sponges, encrusting sponges.
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Cnidaria
Q: What specialized cells define Cnidaria?
A: Cnidocytes (stinging cells).
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Q: Give three examples of Cnidaria.
A: Jellyfish, sea anemones, coral.
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Q: How does a sea anemone capture food?
A: Using cnidocytes to fire nematocysts.
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Ctenophora
Q: What group looks like jellyfish but lacks cnidocytes?
A: Ctenophora (comb jellies).
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Mollusca
Q: What does “Gastropod” mean?
A: “Stomach-foot.”
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Q: What does “Cephalopod” mean?
A: “Head-foot.”
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Q: Name four major Mollusca classes.
A: Bivalves, Gastropods, Polyplacophora (chitons), Cephalopods.
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Q: Name three bivalves.
A: Clams, scallops, mussels.
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Q: Name two cephalopods.
A: Octopus, squid.
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Arthropoda
Q: What phylum includes the most species on Earth?
A: Arthropoda.
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Q: Name three marine arthropod groups.
A: Crabs, shrimp, barnacles.
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Q: What extinct group of arthropods is important historically?
A: Trilobites (Trilobitomorpha).
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Q: What order includes barnacles?
A: Maxillopoda.
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Echinodermata
Q: What symmetry do adult echinoderms have?
A: Five-part (pentamerous) radial symmetry.
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Q: What unique system do echinoderms have?
A: Water vascular system.
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Q: Name five echinoderm classes.
A: Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Crinoidea, Holothuroidea, Echinoidea.
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Q: What echinoderm class includes sea stars?
A: Asteroidea.
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Q: What echinoderm class includes sea urchins?
A: Echinoidea.
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Chordata (Major Concepts)
Q: Name four defining chordate features.
A: Notochord, dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, post-anal tail.
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Q: Which superclass includes jawless fish?
A: Agnatha.
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⭐ SECTION 5 — VERTEBRATES (DETAIL FLASHCARDS)
Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Q: What is the skeleton of Chondrichthyes made of?
A: Calcified cartilage, not bone.
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Q: Do Chondrichthyes have a swim bladder?
A: No.
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Q: What type of scales do sharks have?
A: Placoid scales.
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Elasmobranchs (Subclass)
Q: What animals are Elasmobranchs?
A: Sharks, rays, skates, sawfish.
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Q: What unique reproductive trait do male elasmobranchs have?
A: Claspers (paired reproductive organs).
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Holocephali (Subclass)
Q: What order do Holocephali contain?
A: Chimaeriformes (the chimaeras).
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Q: Common name for Holocephali animals?
A: Chimaeras or ratfish.
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⭐ SECTION 6 — “NAME THAT PHYLUM” FLASHCARDS
Q: Jellyfish belong to what phylum?
A: Cnidaria.
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Q: Sea star belongs to what phylum?
A: Echinodermata.
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Q: Shark belongs to what class?
A: Chondrichthyes.
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Q: Snail belongs to what class?
A: Gastropoda (Mollusca).
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Q: Octopus belongs to what class?
A: Cephalopoda (Mollusca).
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Q: Barnacle belongs to what class?
A: Maxillopoda (Arthropoda).
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Q: Sea urchin belongs to what class?
A: Echinoidea (Echinodermata).
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⭐ SECTION 7 — RARE & “TRICKY” PHYLUM FLASHCARDS
Q: Which phylum includes flatworms?
A: Platyhelminthes.
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Q: Which phylum includes roundworms?
A: Nematoda.
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Q: Which phylum contains segmented worms?
A: Annelida.
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Q: Which phylum contains bizarre microscopic “water bears”?
A: Tardigrada.
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Q: Brachiopods resemble bivalves but are NOT bivalves. What phylum are they?
A: Brachiopoda.
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Q: Which phylum is closely related to chordates and important in marine science?
A: Hemichordata.
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⭐ SECTION 8 — EXTENDED EXAM PRACTICE FLASHCARDS
Q: Name three characteristics shared by all chordates at some point in their development.
A: Notochord, nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, tail beyond anus.
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Q: Name two major traits that make Chondrichthyes different from Osteichthyes.
A: Cartilage skeleton and lack of swim bladder.
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Q: Which phylum contains ONLY marine animals?
A: Echinodermata.
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