Biological Classification Quiz: 10 Questions That Test What You Know
This biological classification quiz covers Carl Linnaeus, binomial names, the ranks from domain to species, the three domains of life, the kingdoms and how DNA is reshaping the tree of life. Ten questions test what you know about how scientists organize living things.
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π― Daily Trivia Challenge β’ π§ 10 Questions β’ β±οΈ 150 Seconds
Father
Who is known as the father of modern taxonomy?
Names
What is the two-part naming system for species called?
Order
Which is the correct order from broadest to narrowest?
Domains
What are the three domains of life?
Fungi
Why are fungi not classified as plants?
Writing
How should a scientific name be written?
Lion
Which genus do lions, tigers and leopards share?
Whales
Whales are classified in which class?
Count
About how many species have been formally described?
DNA
What tool has most changed classification in recent decades?
Your score
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Scroll down to see the explanation for each question.
Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions
- Q1: Who is known as the father of modern taxonomy?
Answer: Carl Linnaeus
The Swedish botanist published Systema Naturae in 1735.
- Q2: What is the two-part naming system for species called?
Answer: Binomial nomenclature
Humans are Homo sapiens: genus Homo, species sapiens.
- Q3: Which is the correct order from broadest to narrowest?
Answer: Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
A memory trick is Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup.
- Q4: What are the three domains of life?
Answer: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya
Carl Woese proposed them using RNA studies.
- Q5: Why are fungi not classified as plants?
Answer: They cannot photosynthesize and have chitin walls
Fungi are more closely related to animals.
- Q6: How should a scientific name be written?
Answer: In italics, with the genus capitalized
For example, Panthera leo.
- Q7: Which genus do lions, tigers and leopards share?
Answer: Panthera
Canis includes wolves and dogs.
- Q8: Whales are classified in which class?
Answer: Mammals
They breathe air and feed milk to young.
- Q9: About how many species have been formally described?
Answer: About 2 million
Millions more remain undiscovered.
- Q10: What tool has most changed classification in recent decades?
Answer: DNA sequencing
It reveals true family relationships.
Biological Classification Quiz β Ordering the Living World
Biological classification, or taxonomy, groups living things by their shared features and evolutionary relationships. Carl Linnaeus created the system still used today in the 1700s, giving each species a two-part Latin name such as Homo sapiens for humans and Panthera leo for lions.
Organisms are sorted into nested ranks: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. In the 1970s, Carl Woese used genetic evidence to show life falls into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, which includes plants, animals, fungi and protists.
Classification keeps changing as scientists learn more. DNA studies have moved species between groups, revealed hidden species and shown surprising links, such as fungi being closer to animals than to plants. Naming species helps scientists communicate and protect biodiversity.
What This Quiz Teaches
This quiz is for students learning biological classification.
- Who founded taxonomy
- How scientific names work
- What the ranks are
- What the three domains are
- How DNA changes classification
Did You Know?
- Linnaeus named over 12,000 species.
- Some species are named after celebrities.
- Birds are classified as living dinosaurs.
- New species are described every year.
- Type specimens anchor each species name.
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