Classification and

species

Science

Unit Species and classification (differences between

: species)
Differences between organisms
Explanation

An organism is a
living thing. ostrich giraffe oryx
There are millions
of different types of
living organisms on
Earth.

How many
different
organisms can you
see in the picture? zebra
wildebeest
Differences between organisms
Explanation

There is enormous variety between different

organisms on Earth. For example:

Some organisms Some organisms Some organisms

walk on four legs can make their digest other
and are covered in own food. organisms to get
fur. food.
Differences between organisms
Check

True or false?
A stick and a stick insect are different organisms.

T True F False a stick

Justify your answer

a They look very similar and have similar names, so
a stick insect
there must not be many differences between
them.
b A stick insect has legs for moving around to find food, but
a stick is from a tree that has no legs and makes its own
food.
Task A Differences between organisms Practice

Create a mind map showing as many differences between

different animals as you can think of.
Include physical and behavioral differences.

when it is active
skin covering Differences (day/night/dusk)
(e.g. fur/feathers) between
animals
Task A Differences between organisms Feedbac
k

Create a mind map showing as many differences between

different animals as you can think of.
You might have hibernat
movement back bone, shell or soft
added: es
body
migrates when it is active
skin covering Differences (day/night/dusk)
(e.g. fur/feathers) between
animals lives on land or in
number of water
legs type of teeth
type of food
predator or
eaten direction its eyes prey
face
Lesson outline

Classification and species

Differences between organisms

Classification

Species and genus

Classification
Explanation

Scientists sort organisms into

different groups according to
their features.

This process is called

classification.
Classification
Explanation

Scientists classify organisms into different levels:

Kingdom Organisms in each level

Phylum have common features.
Class
In higher levels, there are:
Order more organisms with
Family
fewer features in common.
Genus
In lower levels, there are:
Species
fewer organisms with
more features in common.
Classification
Explanation

Kingdom Animal

Phylum Vertebrate

Class Mammal

Order Carnivore

Family Felidae
These are some
Genus Panthera
examples of organisms
Panthera classified into each level.
Species
leo
Classification
Explanation

Firstly, scientists classify organisms into very large

groups called kingdoms. There are kingdoms of:

Animals Plants Fungi Protists Bacteria

The organisms in each kingdom have basic common features, for

example all plants can make their own food.
But they also have many differences in their features for
example some plants are evergreen whilst others are deciduous.
Classification
Check

Which of the statements best describes the organisms in

larger groups such as kingdoms?
a More organisms with many similarities in their features.

b More organisms with few similarities in their features.

c Less organisms with many similarities in their

features.

d Less organisms with few similarities in their features.

Classification
Explanation

Organisms within each kingdom are classified into smaller

groups called phyla based on their features.
In the animal kingdom, the phyla are:

Vertebrates Invertebrate
All organisms in the phylum s organisms in the phylum
All
vertebrates have a invertebrates do not have a
backbone. This includes backbone. This includes
mammals, birds, fish, insects, worms, arachnids
reptiles and amphibians. and molluscs.
Classification
Check

Katie is a marine She finds these animals:

biologist.

fish jellyfish sea urchin seagull starfish

How would a biologist classify these animals into two phyla?

Group the organisms with a
a
similar feature, e.g.
backbone.
b Group the organisms with a
similar habitat.

c Group the organisms with

a similar name.
Classification
Explanation

Organisms in a phylum are put into classes, grouping organisms

together by general features such as the number of legs they
have.
Invertebrate animals are grouped into the following classes:

arthropod molluscs annelid coelenterate

s worms s

flat worms echinoderm

s
Classification
Explanation

Humans are animals, and can be classified using this

system:
Kingdom - animal
Phylum - vertebrate (with
backbone)
Class - mammals
Order - primates
Family - great apes (hominids)
Genus - human (Homo)
Species - wise (sapiens)
Classification
Check

Using the chart, which of these Animals

statements are true? Vertebrates Invertebrates

a All animals are Amphibians Jellyfish Molluscs

vertebrates.
Birds Starfish Worms
b All insects are
invertebrates.
Fish Arthropods

c Jellyfish are a type Arachnids Crustaceans

of fish. Mammals
Insects Myriapods
Fish have more in
d Reptiles
common with birds
than starfish.
Task B Classification Practice

fish fly frog

grass snake slug snail spider

With a partner, discuss and sort the organisms into groups.

1. How many groups will you sort the organisms into?

2. What is the rule you will use to classify organisms into each group?
3. Add the following labels to your sorted organisms: kingdom, phylum
and class.
 Task B Classification Feedbac
k

With a partner, discuss and sort the animals.

You might have
animals kingdom
sorted them:

vertebrates phylum invertebrates

reptile amphibia class arthropod

fish molluscs
s ns s

fish grass snake frog fly spider slug snail

Lesson outline

Classification and species

Differences between organisms

Classification

Genus and species

Genus and species
Explanation

As we move through the classification system, we can

group and describe an organism in greater detail.
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
The genus collects
Family
very similar
Genus Polar bears are a
organisms together.
For instance, all Species different species from
bears have the genus brown bears.
‘Ursus’.
Genus and species
Explanation

A species is a group of organisms with very similar features

that can reproduce with each other to produce fertile
offspring.

Two horses can Two donkeys can If a horse and a donkey

reproduce to produce reproduce to reproduce, they
fertile horses. produce fertile produce an infertile
donkeys. mule because they are
different species.
Genus and species
Check

True or false?
If a dog and a wolf are bred together, they produce fertile puppies.
Therefore, the dog and wolf are the same species.
T True F False

Justify your answer

a Organisms of the same species can reproduce to produce fertile
offspring.

b Organisms of the same species can reproduce to produce

infertile offspring.
Genus and species
Explanation

All organisms have a binomial name: a genus and species.

Red admiral Wild daffodils are Fly agaric fungus is

butterfly is Narcissus
Vanessa atalanta pseudonarcissus Amanita muscaria
Genus and species
Explanation

The formatting conventions for genus and species

names are:

Genus name Species name

has the first Crocodylus is all in
letter nileticus lower case
CAPITALISED Both names are either
in italics or underlined
Genus and species
Explanation

These examples show the binomial names

incorrectly formatted.

English Oak: Common Blackbird:

quercus Robur Turdus Merula
Genus and species
Check

Which example correctly shows the binomial genus and

species name for the domestic cat?
a Felis catus

b Felis Catus

c felis Catus

d Felis catus
Task C Genus and species Practice

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Level Polar Bear Brown Bear and brown bears (Ursus
arctos) are related.
Kingdom
Complete the table to show
vertebrate vertebrate how they are classified.
Class mammal

Order carnivore

Family ursidae

Ursus

Species
Task C Genus and species Feedbac
k

Polar bears (Ursus Level Polar Bear Brown Bear

maritimus) and brown
bears (Ursus arctos) are Kingdom
related. anim anim
al
vertebrate al
vertebrate
Complete the table to Phylum
show how they are Class mammal
classified. mamm
Order carnivore al
carnivore

Family ursidae ursida

e
Ursus
Genus Ursus
Species maritimus arctos
Summar Classification and species
y
● In classification, the similarities and
differences in organisms’ features are used to
classify them into groups.
● Scientists classify every organism into groups from kingdoms
down to species.
● In larger groups such as kingdoms there are more organisms
with fewer similarities in their features.
● Scientists give each species a binomial name to identify the
genus and species.
● A species is a group of organisms which can reproduce with
each other to produce fertile offspring.