 | Term | Definition |
| |
binomial nomenclature |
two word system developed by Carolus Linnaeus to name species |
| |
class |
taxonomic grouping of similar orders |
| |
classification |
grouping of objects or information based on similarities |
| |
division |
taxonomic grouping of similar classes; term used instead of phyum by plant taxonomists |
| |
family |
a group of similar genera |
| |
genus |
first word of a two part scientific name used to identify a group of similar species |
| |
kingdom |
taxonomic grouping of similar phyla or divisions |
| |
order |
taxonomic grouping of similar families |
| |
phylum |
taxonomic grouping of similar classes |
| |
specific epithet |
second word of a species name |
| |
taxonomy |
branch of biology that groups and names organisms |
| |
cladistics |
biological classification system based on phylogeny; assumes that as groups of organisms diverge and evolve from a common ancestral group, they retain derived traits |
| |
cladogram |
branching diagram that models the phylogeny of a species based on the derived traits of a group of organisms |
| |
eubacteria |
group of prokaryotes with strong cell walls and a variety of structures; may be autotrophs (chemosynthetic or photosynthetic) or heterotrophs |
| |
fungus |
unicellular or multicellular heterotrophic eukaryotes that do not move from place to place; absorb nutrients from organic materials in the environment |
| |
phylogeny |
evolutionary history of a species based on comparative relationships of structures and comparisons of modern life forms with fossils |
| |
protist |
diverse group of multicellular or unicellular eukaryotes that lack complex organ systems, and live in moist environments; may be autotrophic or heterotrophic |
