Classification is the grouping of living organisms based on their similarities and differences. The science of classification is called taxonomy. The largest groups are called kingdoms.
The Five Kingdoms
| Kingdom | Examples | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Monera | Bacteria, blue-green algae | Single-celled, no true nucleus (prokaryotic) |
| Protista (Protoctista) | Amoeba, paramecium, algae | Single-celled, true nucleus (eukaryotic) |
| Fungi | Mushrooms, moulds, yeast | No chlorophyll; feed on dead matter; have cell walls |
| Plantae | Mosses, ferns, flowering plants | Have chlorophyll; make their own food |
| Animalia | Insects, fish, birds, mammals | No chlorophyll; feed on other organisms; usually move |
Differences Between Plants and Animals
- Plants make their own food by photosynthesis; animals feed on ready-made food.
- Plants have cell walls and chlorophyll; animals have neither.
- Plants are mostly fixed in one place; animals move about.
- Plants grow throughout life; animals stop growing at a certain size.
Binomial Nomenclature
Organisms are given a two-part scientific name: the genus (capitalised) and the species (lower case). Example: human beings are Homo sapiens.
Remember: A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Different species generally cannot interbreed successfully.
Summary
Living things are grouped into five kingdoms — Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. Plants and animals differ mainly in nutrition (autotrophic vs heterotrophic), cell structure and movement. Each organism has a two-part scientific name.
Comments