scientific classification

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Scientific classification is how scientists categorize and name plants and animals. In order to effectively study plants and animals, all scientists need to use the same names. Using the same names keeps scientists from getting confused about what species is being referred to. Our current day classification system was created by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeausthis in 1757. Not only did that classification system provide official names for every plant and animal, it also helped scientists understand how living things are related to one another. It has 7 different categories: KINGDOM, PHYLUM, CLASS, ORDER, FAMILY, GENUS and SPECIES. Each animal or plant has a scientific name for every one of these categories. The following are two examples:

Sedge wren

KINGDOM : Animalia
PHYLUM : Chordata
CLASS:Aves
ORDER: Passeriform
FAMILY: Troglodytidae
GENUS: Cistothorus
SPECIES: platensis

Labrador duck

KINGDOM : Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Ansaeriformes
FAMILY: Anatidae
GENUS: Camptorynchus
SPECIES: labradorius

   If we compared the sedge wren to the Labrador duck we would find that the kingdom, phylum, and class are all the same. There are five kingdoms, one of which is Animalia. Within the kingdom of Animalia there are phylums. Both of these animals belong to Chordata because they are vertebrates, which means animals with backbones. Their class is Aves, which includes all birds. If you want to learn more about the Labrador duck, the sedge wren or other animals our classmates are studying, click here for the index page.

    As you go through the different categories in the classification system you will find that it gets more specific and more detailed until it could only lead to one animal. That's how scientific classification helps us to understand more things in life.

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