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Pick an organism -

What is it’s common name? House cat
What is it’s scientific name? Felis catus

My organism is in the genus______ and species __________.
An organism that is in genus _________ but not in species _________ is _____________.

My organism is in the family ___________ and genus __________.
An organism that is in family __________ but not in genus _________ is _____________.

My organism is in the order ___________ and family __________.
An organism that is in order __________ but not in family _________ is ______________.

My organism is in the class ___________ and family __________.
An organism that is in class ___________ but not in family _________ is ______________.

My organism is in the phylum ___________ and class __________.
An organism that is in phylum ___________ but not in class _________ is ______________.

My organism is in the kingdom ___________ and phylum __________.
An organism that is in kingdom ___________ but not in phylum _________ is _____________.

What is a dichotomous key and how is it used to classify organisms?

Name and define the three domains of life

use a house cat as the organism

1 answer

Classification of the House Cat (Felis catus)

Common Name: House cat
Scientific Name: Felis catus

  1. My organism is in the genus Felis and species catus.
    An organism that is in genus Felis but not in species catus is Felis silvestris (the wildcat).

  2. My organism is in the family Felidae and genus Felis.
    An organism that is in family Felidae but not in genus Felis is Panthera leo (the lion).

  3. My organism is in the order Carnivora and family Felidae.
    An organism that is in order Carnivora but not in family Felidae is Canis lupus (the gray wolf).

  4. My organism is in the class Mammalia and family Felidae.
    An organism that is in class Mammalia but not in family Felidae is Homo sapiens (humans).

  5. My organism is in the phylum Chordata and class Mammalia.
    An organism that is in phylum Chordata but not in class Mammalia is Perca flavescens (yellow perch, a fish).

  6. My organism is in the kingdom Animalia and phylum Chordata.
    An organism that is in kingdom Animalia but not in phylum Chordata is Agaricus bisporus (the common mushroom, a fungus).

What is a Dichotomous Key?

A dichotomous key is a scientific tool used to identify organisms based on a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a species. It is a guide that consists of paired statements or questions that describe physical characteristics or behaviors of organisms. Each choice directs the user to another set of statements or to the name of the organism, helping to narrow down the possibilities until identification is achieved. Dichotomous keys are often used by biologists, ecologists, and researchers to classify and catalog species in various environments.

Three Domains of Life

  1. Bacteria: This domain includes prokaryotic microorganisms that are single-celled and lack a nucleus. They have a wide range of metabolic types and can be found in various environments, from soil and water to extreme conditions.

  2. Archaea: Also prokaryotic, organisms in this domain are similar in structure to bacteria but differ genetically and biochemically. Many Archaea are extremophiles, thriving in harsh conditions such as hot springs and salt lakes.

  3. Eukarya: This domain consists of organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. It includes a diverse range of life forms, such as plants, animals, fungi, and protists. The house cat (Felis catus) belongs to this domain.