Classification and Species — Revision notes

Physical Differences

Physical differences are things you can see, such as what an animal is covered in, whether it has a backbone or soft body, how many legs it has, and where its eyes are positioned

Behavioural Differences

Behavioural differences are about what animals do, such as when they are active, migration, hibernation, predation, and what they eat

Herbivore

Eats only plants

Carnivore

Eats only other animals

Omnivore

Eats both plants and animals

Classification

The process of sorting organisms into groups based on their features

Kingdom

The largest group in the seven levels of the scientific classification system

Phylum

The second level down in classification, which includes sorting animals by whether they have a backbone or not

Vertebrate

An animal that has a backbone

Class

The third level down in classification, where an animal like a lion is classified as a mammal

Order

The fourth level down in classification, where an animal like a lion is classified as a carnivore

Family

The fifth level down in classification, where a lion sits in Felidae, the cat family

Genus

The sixth level down in classification, which is the first part of a binomial name

Species

A group of organisms with very similar features and genes that can reproduce with each other to produce fertile offspring

Evergreen

A plant that keeps its leaves all year

Deciduous

Loses its leaves in autumn

Fertile

Can produce offspring that can also reproduce

Infertile

Cannot reproduce

Binomial Name

A unique two-part Latin name for every species made up of its genus followed by its species

What this lesson covers

How well do you know each one? Be honest: red means go back over it.

• Explain what classification is and why scientists sort organisms into groupsNot yetSort ofGot it
• Name the seven levels of classification in order from kingdom to speciesNot yetSort ofGot it
• Define a species and explain what fertile offspring meansNot yetSort ofGot it
• Write a binomial name correctly and explain the rules for doing soNot yetSort ofGot it
• Name the five kingdoms and give an example organism from eachNot yetSort ofGot it
• Explain the difference between vertebrates and invertebratesNot yetSort ofGot it

Test yourself

Cover the answer, say it out loud, then check the full quiz on the lesson page.

• Which of the following is the correct definition of classification?
• How does the biologist sort the sea creatures into two phyla?
• What can you tell about Panthera tigris from its binomial name?

Topic quiz

12 questions on this topic only — not mixed with anything else, one at a time.

Spelling challenge

Read the definition, then type the correct spelling of the term. Uses the same terms as above.