Classification systems sort organisms into hierarchical groups based on shared characteristics. The main systems include 5 kingdoms - Protista, Monera, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. Organisms are further classified into phyla, class, order, family, genus and species using the binomial system of naming. The document then provides details on classifying vertebrates, arthropods, other invertebrates, viruses, bacteria, fungi and plants using visible external features.

1. Classification and diversity of living organisms – 4th Year Summer Exam
Concept and use of a classificatory system
 define and describe the binomial system of naming species and classify the five main
classes of vertebrates using visible, external characteristic features only
Classification makes the ____________________________ of living organisms easier. It involves
the sorting of organisms into _______________ according the to ______________ they have in
common. The biggest group is the __________________.
There are 5 kingdoms

________________________ - Very small and single-celled, with cell walls but not nucleus
(they do have simple DNA)

________________________ - Single celled with a nucleus

________________________ - Cell walls contain chitin, with a nucleus

________________________ - Multicellular organisms, can make food through
photosynthesis

________________________ - Multicellular, have to obtain food
Each Kingdom is divided into smaller groups

P___________________________

C___________________________

O___________________________

F___________________________

G___________________________

S___________________________
Binomial System
The system of classifying organisms uses two names - __________________ and ____________ which are written in _____________________.
The genus name always has a ____________________ letter

e.g. Panthera leo
lion
Adaptations of organisms to their environment, to be illustrated by examples wherever
possible
 list the main features used in the classification of the following groups: flowering plants
(monocotyledons and dicotyledons), arthropods (insects, crustaceans, arachnids and
myriapods), annelids, nematodes and molluscs, using visible, external characteristic
features only
 list the main features used in the classification of the following groups: viruses, bacteria
and fungi, and their adaptation to the environment, as appropriate

2. Classification of vertebrates
 vertebrates are animals with a _____________________________

vertebrates are divided into 5 classes
Vertebrate
class
visible external Features
Fish
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Classification of Arthropods
 They are ___________________________ - They have no backbone
 They have and _______________________ which is waterproof
 Their bodies are _____________________
 They have _________________ limbs
Class
Example
External features
Insects
Arachnids
Crustaceans
Myriapods
Classification of other groups of invertebrates
Class
Example
Annelids
nematodes
Molluscs
External features

3. Classification of viruses, bacteria and fungi
Viruses, e.g. HIV
 Very small

NOT ____________________

Contain a strand of DNA or RNA

Surrounded by a ________________ _________________ (capsid)

Only life process they show is ____________________ (inside host cells)
Bacteria e.g. E. coli
 Small
 Cell wall, cell membrane and cytoplasm

No ___________________, DNA is a single coil

Some have a slime capsule

Some have ______________ (for movement)
Fungi e.g. Mucor

Multicellular fungi are composed of ____________________

Cell walls made of cellulose or chitin

Do not ___________________________

Some produce spores
Classification of flowering plants
Key features
 Multicellular organisms

___________________ cell walls and sap vacuoles

Roots, stems and leaves

Some cells contain _____________________

Two groups
o
o

Monocotyledons
Dicotyledons
The term ____________________ means “seed leaf”
FEATURE
MONOCOTYLEDON
DICOTYLEDON
In threes
In fives
Leaf Shape
Leaf veins
Cotyledons
(seed leaf)
Grouping of flower
parts