Scientific Classification

Scientific Classification

   Scientific classification is the way in which scientists put all living things into groups based on how they are alike.  Scientists use certain group labels so that the plant or animal’s place in the system can be easily seen.  For instance: 

	Kingdom:  whether it is an animal, plant, one-celled organism, algae, or fungi.  Kingdom is the Scientific classification’s biggest group.  For example: Birds of prey are in the Kingdom Animalia, or animals. This Kingdom includes ALL of the animals in the world.
	Phylum:  Scientists take a group like the Animal Kingdom and split it into smaller groups based on its insides, outsides, and behavior.  Birds of prey are put in the Phylum Chordata because they are all vertebrates.  Vertebrates all have a spinal column.
	Class:  This group is formed when its Phylum is split up into groups that have bodies or behavior that are alike.  For example, the Phylum Chordata that we are studying gets separated into mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds.  Since we are studying birds of prey, the Class would be Aves, or birds.
	Order:  This group is formed when the Class is further separated into like groups.  Aves includes any birds anywhere.  There are songbirds, storks, ducks, geese, woodpeckers, and penguins.  That’s only a few of them!  We are studying birds of prey which fall into two Orders.  One is Falconiformes, birds that hunt during the day (diurnal), andStrigiformes, birds that hunt at night (nocturnal).
	Family:  Each of the bird of prey Orders are split into birds that are alike in some way.  For example:  Falconiformes is split into Falconidae (falcons), Accipitridae (hawks, kites, eagles), Sagittariidae (Secretary Bird),Pandionidae (Osprey), and Cathartidae (vultures).  Strigiformes, another Order that we are studying, is split intoStrigidae (most owls) and Tytonidae (Barn Owls).  Each family has a ‘family resemblance’ like human and mouse families do.  The resemblance might be in how they look, how their bodies are formed, or even how they hunt.   If they are in the same family, then the likenesses are there.
	Genus:  Families are divided again according to their similarities.  Now the numbers are getting smaller.
	Species:  The Genus is divided into smaller groups that have strong likenesses and would be able to mate and produce young birds together.

Throughout the years, there have been different plans for scientific classification.  Today classification is based on how the animal changed over time.  The scientists look for ancestors of the animals, even if the ancestors didn’t look just like them.

We are using Scientific Classification so that you will know what it is, see how it divides the animal kingdom from its greatest number to its smallest number, and recognize where birds of prey fit in the system.
             Our team began to work on birds of prey without knowing much about scientific classification.  When we realized that this would be the perfect way to present these birds so that you could see their similarities and differences, we had to learn about it, too.
       Jump to the Raptor page by clicking here.

source: Scientific classification is the way in which scientists put all living things into groups based on how they are alike. Scientists use certain group labels so that the plant or animal’s place in the system can be easily seen. For instance: Kingdom: whether it is an animal, plant, one-celled organism, algae, or fungi. Kingdom is the Scientific classification’s biggest group. For example: Birds of prey are in the Kingdom Animalia, or animals. This Kingdom includes ALL of the animals in the world. Phylum: Scientists take a group like the Animal Kingdom and split it into smaller groups based on its insides, outsides, and behavior. Birds of prey are put in the Phylum Chordata because they are all vertebrates. Vertebrates all have a spinal column. Class: This group is formed when its Phylum is split up into groups that have bodies or behavior that are alike. For example, the Phylum Chordata that we are studying gets separated into mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds. Since we are studying birds of prey, the Class would be Aves, or birds. Order: This group is formed when the Class is further separated into like groups. Aves includes any birds anywhere. There are songbirds, storks, ducks, geese, woodpeckers, and penguins. That’s only a few of them! We are studying birds of prey which fall into two Orders. One is Falconiformes, birds that hunt during the day (diurnal), and Strigiformes, birds that hunt at night (nocturnal). Family: Each of the bird of prey Orders are split into birds that are alike in some way. For example: Falconiformes is split into Falconidae (falcons), Accipitridae (hawks, kites, eagles), Sagittariidae (Secretary Bird), Pandionidae (Osprey), and Cathartidae (vultures). Strigiformes, another Order that we are studying, is split into Strigidae (most owls) and Tytonidae (Barn Owls). Each family has a ‘family resemblance’ like human and mouse families do. The resemblance might be in how they look, how their bodies are formed, or even how they hunt. If they are in the same family, then the likenesses are there. Genus: Families are divided again according to their similarities. Now the numbers are getting smaller. Species: The Genus is divided into smaller groups that have strong likenesses and would be able to mate and produce young birds together. Throughout the years, there have been different plans for scientific classification. Today classification is based on how the animal changed over time. The scientists look for ancestors of the animals, even if the ancestors didn’t look just like them. We are using Scientific Classification so that you will know what it is, see how it divides the animal kingdom from its greatest number to its smallest number, and recognize where birds of prey fit in the system. Our team began to work on birds of prey without knowing much about scientific classification. When we realized that this would be the perfect way to present these birds so that you could see their similarities and differences, we had to learn about it, too. Jump to the Raptor page by clicking here.