Science Common Sense
1104 - How are living organisms classified based on their morphological characteristics?
Living organisms are classified based on their morphological characteristics into different groups. Here's a simplified explanation:
- Kingdom: The largest group, based on how cells are organized and how the organism makes its food. There are 6 kingdoms: Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Fungi, Protista (single-celled organisms), Archaea (very old bacteria), and Bacteria.
- Phylum (or Division in plants): A group within a kingdom, based on the organism's body structure. For example, vertebrates (animals with backbones) and invertebrates (animals without backbones).
- Class: A smaller group within a phylum, based on shared characteristics like body shape and features. For example, mammals (warm-blooded animals with hair) and birds (warm-blooded animals with feathers).
- Order: A group within a class, based on even more specific characteristics. For example, carnivores (meat-eaters) and primates ( monkeys and apes).
- Family: A group of related orders, based on shared features. For example, cats and dogs are in the same family (Carnivora).
- Genus: A group of related species within a family. For example, lions and tigers are in the same genus (Panthera).
- Species: The smallest group, which includes organisms that can breed with each other. For example, humans are a species (Homo sapiens).
This classification system is like a big tree, with each branch getting smaller and more specific. It helps us understand how living organisms are related to each other.