7 Levels of Classification

Classification system scientists use to identify

animal species; includes: Kingdom, Phylum,
Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Amphibians
Animals that live in water and breathe with gills when
they are young; they move to land as they get older and
breathe with lungs as adults; they are cold-blooded.

Angiosperm
Flowering seeds or seeds that produce fruit

Birds
birds are have feathers and lay eggs; they are warmblooded.

Characteristics
Traits that an organism posesses

Class

Animals are placed into classes:

birds, reptiles, mammals, fish, and
amphibians

Classify or classification
Group into categories based on how they are similar or
relate

Consumers
Are living, eat other living things; examples are
animals

Decomposers
Break down the remains of dead organisms; examples
include mushrooms, fungi, and bacteria

Family

Members from Order are split into

smaller categories that share
common characteristics (such as
dogs with long snouts).

Fish
Animals that live in water and breath with their gills; they
have scales to protect their bodies; they are cold-blooded.

Genus

Each family is divided into smaller

groups. Members of genus are very
similar but USUALLY do not breed
with one another.

Gymnosperm
Plants with "naked" seeks that are not
enclosed

Invertebrates
Animals without backbones; small because they do not have a backbone to
support them; many live in the ocean because the water supports their weight.

Kingdom
The largest scientific grouping. All living organisms can be placed
into ONE of 5 kingdoms: Animal, plant, fungi, bacteria, or protist.

Mammals
Animals that give live birth; they are warm-blooded; they
have fur to keep them warm.

Non-vascular
Plants that lack transport systems

Order

Members share common

characteristics (such as Carnivora meat eating mammals).

Phloem

Vascular tissues that transport

nutrients from the leaves to other
plant parts

Phylum

The 2nd largest scientific grouping.

Animals with backbones are placed
into Phylum Chordata. Phylum is
only used for the animal kingdom.

Producers
Are living, make their own food; examples
include trees, bushes, grass

Reptiles
Animals that lay eggs and are cold blooded; they live on land and breathe with
lungs; they are covered with scales and live in warmer climates.

Species

The smallest level of classification

where all members can reproduce
offspring (for example, humans are
Homo sapiens and dogs are Canus
domesticus - or canines).

Vascular
Plants with tissues that transport water and
minerals

Vertebrates
Animals with backbones

Xylem

Vascular tissue that transports

water and nutrients from the roots to
other parts o the plant