Taxonomic Classifications Table

Animals are placed in taxonomic classifications based on differences and similarities of their traits. If you know what critical traits to look for, it is possible to separate any animal into a taxonomic category.

The common categories are Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species (Specific Epithet).

Example: Human Classification

Domain: Eukarya

  Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Chordata

      Class: Mammalia

        Order: Primates

           Family: Hominidae

              Genus: Homo

                 Species: sapiens

Scientific name: Homo sapiens

Download U5IP_Table.

The document contains a table with images. The images are examples of nine Animal Phylum: Porifera, Cnidaria, Nematoda,  Arthropoda, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Echinodermata, and Chordata.

Next, download the Dichotomous Key and use the Dichotomous Key to help determine the taxonomic category in which each specific organism belongs. For help on how to use the Dichotomous Key, download the document, U5IP_How_To_Dichotomous_Key.

Save a copy of the table with your name in the file name.

Using text Chapters 23 and 24 answer the following questions as it relates to the nine Phyla in the table.

1.     Which group(s) lack tissue level organization?

2.     Which group(s) of organism(s) begins to show cephalization?

3.     Do all organisms on the chart have 3 germ layers (endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm)? If not which groups lack all three?

4.     One group has more species than all the other groups, give the name of the Phylum and examples of species found in this group.

5.     Do all fish have the same skeletal structures? If not, describe the differences.

6.     Describe the 3 different types of mammals.

List all references please.