Help complete your understanding of taxonomy by copying this chart into your notes and filling in the right hand column with examples, comments, or information that help people understand the concepts in the left hand column. You may want to consult your notes or some of the resources listed in the additional resources.
An excellent reference to learn more about any species is the encyclopedia of life: Encyclopedia of Life. If you explore any species you will immediately see how it has been classified, from kingdom to species. You can also click on any group it belongs to and see the characteristics of that group.
| Important concepts about taxonomy & classification | Examples, comments, or other information to help you remember the concepts |
| Different kinds of animals may have the same common name. | |
| The science of taxonomy gives every organism a unique scientific name. | |
| Scientific names often give clues about the organism. | |
| Scientific names help you see relationships between organisms. | |
| Classifying organisms helps establish their evolutionary relationships. | |
| Taxonomy gives us a basis for knowing the components of an ecosystem. | |
| Putting organisms into a taxonomic system or tree of life lets us see patterns and make predictions. |