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    Classification of living things

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    Classification of living things

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    Classification of living things

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    12328

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    CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS

     Scientists use group things so they can be studied easily, this is called Classification.
     All things can be classified into either Living things or Non-living things.
     Living things undergo
    1. The 7 life processes (MRS GREN)
    2. They have organised cells.
     Non living things
    1. Do not undergo the 7 life processes
    2. Do not have organised cells.
    3. They are made up of chemicals.
     Living things can further be classified into kingdoms, the Animal Kingdom and the Plant
    Kingdom. These kingdoms are the largest groups of living things and each kingdom has
    similar major features.
     The Plant Kingdom (both flowering and non-flowering plants)
    1. Is made up of autotrophs (food producers)
    2. They contain cellulose for support as well as the green pigment chlorophyll.
    3. Their movement is limited as they can not change position (limited to one place).
     The Animal Kingdom
    1. Is made up of heterotrophs (food consumers).
    2. They do not contain both cellulose and chlorophyll.
    3. They can move freely and change position.

    The Animal Kingdom


     The animal kingdom can be subdivided into 2 groups, the vertebrates and invertebrates.
     Invertebrates are animals that have an exoskeleton (no backbone), this means the animals
    have an external hard protective covering.
     They are usually small organisms with 6 or more limbs (multi-legged) that are found in both
    water and on land.
     Some common invertebrates are crabs, prawns, spiders, millipeds, centipedes, snails, insects
    and amoeba.
     Vertebrates are animals that have an endoskeleton (backbone), this means these animals have
    an internal frame of bones called a skeleton to protect and support them.
     They can be further split into groups called classes using specific characteristics namely
    1. Skin covering
    2. Reproduction
    3. Breathing
    4. Cold or warm blooded
    5. Other features (where applicable).
     The 5 classes of Vertebrates obtained from classifying using the above criteria are called
    1. Mammal – human beings, lions, elephants, monkeys, whales and bats
    2. Bird – dove, chicken, turkey, ostrich
    3. Fish – tuna, bream, tiger fish and sharks
    4. Amphibian – toads and frogs
    5. Reptile – snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles

    Table 1: table showing the classification of vertebrates


    Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals
    Skin covering Wet scales Moist smooth Dry scales Feathers Fur or hair
    skin
    Breathing Gills Tadpoles: gills Lungs Lungs Lungs
    Adults: skin
    Reproduction Lay eggs in Lay string of Lay soft Lay hard Give birth to
    water eggs in water shelled eggs shelled eggs live young
    on land on land
    Cold or warm Cold blooded Cold blooded Cold blooded Warm Warm
    blooded blooded blooded
    Other features Fins Two-part life Nil Nil Suckle their
    cycle: 1st in young
    water and 2nd
    on land

    Species
     A species is a group of organisms, that have a very large number of similarities. When the
    male and female mate they produce fertile offspring.
     Some organisms have similarities and are able to mate but produce infertile offspring eg when
    a donkey and a horse mate a mule is produced, this mule cannot reproduce.
     Some species are endangered whilst some are already extinct because of
    1. Loss of habitat
    2. Over hunting
    3. Pollution
    4. Loss of genetic variation.

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