Classification is the method used by scientists to order living organisms. All species have a unique classification that results in a binomial name. Vertebrates are an example of a classification group. Keys can be used to help to identify individual organisms.

Kingdom to species

Classification

You will remember from your Key Stage 3 studies that species with similar characteristics are put into groups, and that this is called classification. Remind yourself of the basics of classification.

Kingdoms

The first rank in this system is called a kingdom. There are five kingdoms, based upon what an organism's cells are like:

1. animalia (all multicellular animals)
2. plantae (all green plants)
3. fungi (moulds, mushrooms, yeast)
4. prokaryotae (bacteria, blue-green…