Classification 2
Classification 2
Classification 2
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Binomial Nomenclature
Kingdom Monera
Kingdom Protoctista
Kingdom Fungi
Kingdom Plantae
Division Bryophyta
Division Pteridophyta
Division Spermatophyta
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Phylum Chordata
Practical Activities
To Examine Bryophyta
To Examine Pteridophyta
To Examine Spermatophyta
Examination of Arthropoda
Examination of Chordata
Classification is the science that puts organisms into distinct groups to make their study easy and
systematic.
Organisms with similar anatomical and morphological characteristics are placed in one group while those
with different structures are grouped separately.
Modern studies in genetics and cell biochemistry are used to give additional help in classifying
organisms.
Others are phylum (division for plants) class, order, family, genus and species, the smallest.
Binomial Nomenclature
The first name is the generic name - the name of the genus.
The generic name starts with a capital letter while that of the species starts with a small letter.
Examples:
Monera,
Protoctista,
Fungi,
Plantae
Animalia.
Kingdom Monera
General Characteristics
Mitochondria absent
Structure of bacteria
They are used in food processing e.g., Lactobacillus used in processing of cheese, yoghurt.
Involved in synthesis of vitamin Band K, in humans and breakdown of cellulose in herbivores.
Genetic Engineering: Bacteria are easily cultured and are being used for making antibiotics, aminoacids
and enzymes e.g. amylase, and invertase e.g., Escherichia coli.
Nutrient cycling: Saprophytes, They are involved in decomposition of dead organic matter, They are
useful in the nitrogen cycle.
Harmful Effects
Kingdom Protoctista
Examples include ;
structure of amoeba
Spirogyra:
Chlamydomonas:
This is a unicellular green algae and has a cup shaped chloroplast.
General Characteristics
Some cause human diseases like malaria and amoebic dysentry ,sleeping sickness
Some are source of food for humans e.g. sargassum is a source of iodine
Kingdom Fungi
Multicellular fungi are made of thread-like structures called hyphae (singular hyphae) that form a
mycelium.
Examples are Saccharomyces cereviseae(bread yeast), Others include Penicillium, Rhizopus, and edible
mushroom
Economic Importance of Fungi
Beneficial Effects
Some are decomposers which enhance decay to improve soil fertility - recycling of nutrients e.g.,
toadstools.
Some are useful in brewing and bread making e.g., yeast. Yeast is used as food - a rich source of Vitamin
B.
Harmful Effects
Some cause food poisoning by producing toxic compounds e.g. Aspergillus flavus which produces
aflatoxins.
Some cause food spoilage, fabric and wood spoilage through decomposition.
Others cause diseases to plants e.g., potato blight (Irish potatoes) rust in tomatoes and smuts in cereals.
mushroom1
Fig 3: Mushroom
rhizopus
Fig 4: Rhizopus
Kingdom Plantae
General Characteristics
Bryophyta,
Pteridophyta
Spermatophyta.
Division Bryophyta
General Characteristics
They have rhizoids for absorbing water and anchoring the plant to substratum.
Life cycle consists of two morphologically different plants, the gametophyte and sporophyte the two
alternate.
Division Pteridophyta:
General Characteristics
They show alternation of generations whereby the spore bearing sporophyte is the main plant.
The gametophyte is an independent minute structure called prothallus which is short lived.
fern
Division Spermatophyta
General Characteristics
Male gametophyte (pollen grain) germinates and grows to reach female gametophyte.
Angiosperms.
Gymnosperms
Naked seeds.
Angiosperms
Monocotyledonae
Dicotyledonae.
Dicotyledonae Monocotyledonae
Leaves are broad and have network of veins. Leaves are long with parallel veins (have leaf sheath)
Cross section of stem reveals vascular bundles arranged in a ring. Cross section of stem reveals
vascular bundles scattered all over.
Vascular cambium present and have secondary growth. Vascular cambium absent and do not have
secondary growth.
Flower parts in four, five or multiples of these. Flower parts in three or multiples of three.
Examples: herbs e.g. tomatoe; shrubs e.g. tea, hibiscus, lantana. Examples: grass, wheat, sugar-cane.
Ornamental plants.
Kingdom Animalia
Platyhelminthes (Tapeworm).
Nematoda (Ascaris).
Annelida (Earthworm).
Mollusca (Snails).
Arthropoda
Chordata
Phylum Arthropoda
Distinguishing Characteristics
They have jointed appendages, which are specialised for various functions.
General Characteristics
Body is segmented.
Gaseous exchange is through tracheal system, book lungs or gills which opens to the outside through
spiracles.
Crustacea,
Arachnida,
Chilopoda,
Diplopoda
Insecta
Class Crustacea
Most of them are aquatic, a few are terrestrial found in moist places e.g., woodlouse.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Two body parts head and thorax are fused to form cephalothorax and an abdomen.
They have two pairs of antennae; one is small and branched, the other is long.
Some of these are modified for other functions e.g., locomotion, feeding and defence.
Other Characteristics
Most crustaceans are free-living but a few are parasitic e.g., barnacles.
crab
Fig 7: Crab
Class Arachnida
Members are carnivorous and paralyse prey using poison produced from poison claws.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Instead they have a pair of short pedipalps which are sensitive to touch.
spider
Fig 8: Spider
Distinguishing Characteristics
Are carnivorous.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Other characteristics:
Are herbivorous.
Class Insecta
Distinguishing Characteristics
Body is divided into three body parts head, thorax and abdomen.
A pair of antennae.
They breathe through spiracles, and gaseous exchange is through tracheal system.
Size of legs.
Order Orthoptera
Have biting and chewing mouthparts.
Hind legs longer than other legs e.g. fore wings, leathery and longer than hind legs. e.g. locusts and
grasshoppers.
Swarming - locusts are a menace to farmers and the environment as they destroy crops and vegetation.
grasshoper
These are disease vectors e.g., female anopheles mosquito transmits malaria.
dipthera
butterfly1
They have sucking mouthparts, two pairs of wings which are membranous.
details wasp
Those with wings they are membranous and of the same size.
They are important in nutrient cycling as they feed on cellulose.
isoptera
beetle
Phylum Chordata
In vertebrates the notochord exists only in embryonic stages of development which in later stages is
replaced by a vertebral column.
They have visceral clefts - which are slits perforating the body wall at the pharynx.
In fish these slits become gills while in higher chordates these slits are only present in embryo.
It develops into a brain at the anterior and spinal cord at the posterior end.
They have segmented muscle blocks known as myotomes on either side of the body.
Pisces,
Amphibia,
Reptilia,
Aves
Mammalia.
Class Pisces
Distinguishing Characteristics
Their heart has two chambers, the auricle and ventricle - simple circulatory system.
Other Characteristics
fish parts
Class Amphibia
Adults return to water for breeding e.g. frogs, toads, newts, salamanders.
Distinguishing Characteristics
The hind limbs are longer and more muscular than forelimbs.
Other Characteristics
They have a three-chambered heart with two atria and one ventricle.
Fertilisation is external.
amphibians
parts of a toad
Class Reptilia
Distinguishing Characteristics
The skin is dry and is covered by horny scales.
Fertilisation is internal.
Some species eggs contain a lot of yolk and have either leathery or calcareous shells.
The heart has three chambers - two atria and a partly divided ventricle.
Other Characteristics
Class Aves
They are terrestrial and arboreal and others are aquatic e.g. flamingo, goose, ostrich, penguin, hawk,
dove.
bird
Distinguishing Characteristics
Fertilisation is internal.
Class Mammalia
Distinguishing Characteristics
They have a diaphragm that separates the body cavity into thoracic and abdominal.
Other Characteristics
The young are born immature and are nourished in a pouch with milk from mammary glands.
Placental Mammals
They give birth to fully developed young ones which are fed on milk from mammary glands.
Most are terrestrial e.g. rabbits, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, cow, human being.
Carnivora: e.g. dog; lion - flesh eaters, they have long pointed canines.
Cetacea: e.g. whales and dolphins Aquatic mammals. Forelimbs are flippers.
Artiodactyla: e.g. antelopes, cattle - they are even toed with split hooves.
Perissodactyla: e.g. horse, donkey - they are odd toed with hooves.
Proboscidea: e.g. elephant - upper lip and nose elongated to form trunk.
Lagomorpha: e.g. rabbit, hare - mammals with upper and lower incisors. Have larger hind legs than
forelegs.
Primata: e.g. gorilla, orang utang, chimpanzee, monkeys - some are arboreal, with hand and foot for
grasping.
Human - Homo sapiens - upright gait, opposable thumb hence use of tools.
Biological keys are sets of statements that act as clues leading to the identification of an organism.
Two contrasting statements are put forward to describe the characteristics in such a way as to separate
the organisms.
Use morphological characteristics as far as possible e.g. type of leaf - simple or compound.
Flowers scented.
Start with a major characteristic that divide the organisms into two large groups then proceed to lesser
variations that would separate the organisms further into smaller groups.
In Plants
Leaves
Type of leaf
Compound leaves.
Type of venation.
Simple leaf
Trifoliate
Pinnate
Type of leaf margin.
Stem
Infloresence
Roots
In Animals
Type of mouthparts.
Type of skeleton.
Body segmentation.
Practical Activities
To Examine Bryophyta
A labelled drawing showing structures is made: rhizoids, set a capsule, gametophyte, sporophyte ..
To Examine Pteridophyta
A labelled drawing showing: frond, pinna, sorus, rhizome and adventitious roots.
To Examine Spermatophyta
The leaves show xerophytic characteristics e.g. they are rolled, or needle-like.
Examination of Arthropoda
Body parts.
Antennae.
Other appendages.
Eyes.
Examination of Chordata
Body covering.
Limbs.
Type of teeth