Nomenclature and Taxonomy

Linnaean System

Issue with common names

• Change frequently
• Differ by region
• local names, different languages etc.
• Solution = Use unique Latin names for all organisms

Vocabulary

• Nomenclature: The system of rules used to name things
• Taxonomy: The system of naming organisms
• Systematics: The system of classifying organisms based on their evolutionary relationship

Scientific Naming

• Each species has a unique binomial name
• Genus species Example: Bufo boreas (Western Toad)
• may be abbreviated as G. species Example: B. boreas
• Also called the "species name"

Hierarchical Classification

• Naming organisms using nested levels
• Provides evolutionary history of each species
• Each level down = closer related group
• From broad to general the levels are: Domain > Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species Example: Eukarya > Animalia > Chordata > Amphibia > Anura > Bufonidae > Bufo > boreas