Taxonomy and Classification:
The science of taxonomy has two branches, the naming of organisms, or Nomenclature, and
the placing of organisms into groups, or Systematic. The latter (Systematic) is done on the
basis of their similarities and differences.
Classification is grouping things together on the basis of features they have in common. The
science of classification is called Taxonomy. Scientists classify organisms using a series of
hierarchical categories called taxa (taxon, singular). Classification is done for survival
advantage to cope and to make sense of things. Though, it is important to note that there is
no single perfect classification
Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish naturalist developed formal rules that provided consistency for a
two-name system in common use called the binomial system of nomenclature. In this system,
similar organisms are grouped into a genus, and each organism is given a two-word Latin
name. The first word is the genus name, and the second word is usually an adjective
describing the organism, its geographic location, or the person who discovered it. A generic
name beginning with a capital letter and a specific name beginning with a lower case letter.
E.g humans are named Homo sapiens; the genus is Homo and the specie is sapiens. Italics
are used to indicate Latin names on prints. Alternatively, the word can be underlined. If the
name was used once, it could be abbreviated as H. sapiens. This is used to avoid the
confusion of local variation in common names. Using this system, the domestic dog is Canis
familiaris. Canis is the genus name for the group of animals that includes dogs, wolves,
coyotes, and jackals. The word familiaris acts as a descriptor to further differentiate the
domestic dog from its wild cousins.
Artificial and natural classification:There are two types of classification, artificial and
natural.
An artificial classification is based on one or a few easily observed characteristics, and is
usually designed for a practical purpose with an emphasis on convenience and simplicity. E.g
Linnaeus included all worm-like organisms in a single group, the Vermes, this included wide
range of animals, from simple nematode worms and earthworms to snakes. It is an artificial,
because it did not take into account of important natural relationship, such as the fact that
snakes have backbone and earthworms do not. A natural classification tries to use natural
relationships between organisms. It considers more evidence than artificial classifications,
including internal as well as external features (embryology, morphology, anatomy,
physiology, biochemistry, cell structure and behaviour). Most classification in use today are
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The science of taxonomy has two branches, the naming of organisms, or Nomenclature, and
the placing of organisms into groups, or Systematic. The latter (Systematic) is done on the
basis of their similarities and differences.
Classification is grouping things together on the basis of features they have in common. The
science of classification is called Taxonomy. Scientists classify organisms using a series of
hierarchical categories called taxa (taxon, singular). Classification is done for survival
advantage to cope and to make sense of things. Though, it is important to note that there is
no single perfect classification
Carolus Linnaeus, Swedish naturalist developed formal rules that provided consistency for a
two-name system in common use called the binomial system of nomenclature. In this system,
similar organisms are grouped into a genus, and each organism is given a two-word Latin
name. The first word is the genus name, and the second word is usually an adjective
describing the organism, its geographic location, or the person who discovered it. A generic
name beginning with a capital letter and a specific name beginning with a lower case letter.
E.g humans are named Homo sapiens; the genus is Homo and the specie is sapiens. Italics
are used to indicate Latin names on prints. Alternatively, the word can be underlined. If the
name was used once, it could be abbreviated as H. sapiens. This is used to avoid the
confusion of local variation in common names. Using this system, the domestic dog is Canis
familiaris. Canis is the genus name for the group of animals that includes dogs, wolves,
coyotes, and jackals. The word familiaris acts as a descriptor to further differentiate the
domestic dog from its wild cousins.
Artificial and natural classification:There are two types of classification, artificial and
natural.
An artificial classification is based on one or a few easily observed characteristics, and is
usually designed for a practical purpose with an emphasis on convenience and simplicity. E.g
Linnaeus included all worm-like organisms in a single group, the Vermes, this included wide
range of animals, from simple nematode worms and earthworms to snakes. It is an artificial,
because it did not take into account of important natural relationship, such as the fact that
snakes have backbone and earthworms do not. A natural classification tries to use natural
relationships between organisms. It considers more evidence than artificial classifications,
including internal as well as external features (embryology, morphology, anatomy,
physiology, biochemistry, cell structure and behaviour). Most classification in use today are
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