Final answer:
Taxonomists classify species using shared characteristics based on behavior, genetics, and morphology. This forms part of a hierarchical model known as the Linnaean system, which includes levels from domain to species. Binomial nomenclature, also established by Linnaeus, gives each organism two Latin names for universal scientific communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Taxonomists classify species based on a set of criteria that allows them to organize organisms into different groups. These criteria are largely based on shared characteristics such as behavior, genetics, and morphology, which are the basis for scientific names. The taxonomy employs a hierarchical model known as the Linnaean system, developed by Carl Linnaeus, which includes levels such as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
Defining the Science of Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of classification, description, identification, and naming of living organisms. It is an essential component of biological anthropology, helping to organize human and evolutionary ancestors both spatially and temporally.
The Levels of Classification
According to the Linnaean system, after the common beginning of all life, scientists categorize organisms into large groups called domains—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—which are further divided into kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and eventually individual species.
Binomial Nomenclature
Carl Linnaeus also introduced binomial nomenclature, which assigns two Latin names to each organism. The first name is the genus, and the second is the specific or trivial name, also called the species name. This naming system is used universally to provide a consistent scientific language, avoiding confusion caused by regional and colloquial names.