Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification. Scientists use taxonomy to make dichotomous keys. There are certain kinds of taxonomy. The first kind of taxonomy is called Linnaean taxonomy, created by Carolus Linnaeus. A second kind of taxonomy is phylogenetic taxonomy, which organizes animals into clades, which sorts they by derived traits. Taxonomy organizes organisms using a hierarchical system.

There are eight levels os classification used in taxonomy.

• Domain

  Kingdom

  Phylum

  Class

  Order

  Family

  Genus

  Species

•  

Taxonomy is used in binomial nomenclature, or naming an organism by its genus and species. The first kind of taxonomy, Linnaean taxonomy, was created by Carolus Linnaeus. It organizes organisms by their physical characteristics. It puts them into specific sections on the classification heirarchy, such as organisms with a backbone are organized into the phylum Chordata. In pylogenetic taxonomy, organisms are organized by traits, and there organized into diagrams called cladograms.

The supposed "father" of taxonomy is none other then, Carolus Linnaeus. He went around the world for 3 years to different places, the Malay Archipeligo for example, and studied the organims he found there. He then came up with the idea of classifying organisms by using there physical characteristics.

     To create a binomial nomenclature for an organism, all you have to look for is the organism's genus and species. You'll have to "put together" the two names to make the binomial nomenclature. For example, the binomial nomenclature for a house cat is Felis Catus.   

http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Zoology/Biologicaldiverstity/Classification/cladogram_1.gif 

Back to Front Page

To Wikipedia Taxomomy Page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy