Why do we classify?
Transcript
This odd-looking creature is called a platypus.
platypus
It has brown fur and a tail like a beaver.
It also has a bill and lays eggs like a duck.
So what kind of animal is it?
Is it a mammal, like a beaver?
mammal
Or a bird, like a duck?
bird
To decide, scientists use a system called classification.
Classification
Classification is a way of grouping different living things together by their features.
classification
groups organisms by features
For example, a finch might look quite different to a peacock, but their beaks, wings and feathers mean both are classified as birds.
fish
And most animals that have fins are classified as fish,
like sharks, sardines and goldfish.
Today, most scientists use the classification system developed by the 18th-century scientist Carl Linnaeus.
Carl Linnaeus
Botanist, 18th century
But they don't always agree how organisms should be classified.
When scientists saw the platypus for the first time they were rather puzzled.
It was such a strange looking creature, some didn't believe it was real.
But eventually the scientists decided, because it had warm blood, fur and it suckled its young, the platypus should be classified as a mammal.
Classification groups organisms by their features.
What is this strange animal? It’s a platypus
platypus
It has brown fur and a tail, like a beaver.
It has a bill and lays eggs, like a duck.
What kind of animal is it?
Is it a mammal, like a beaver?
mammal
Or is it a bird, like a duck?
bird
Scientists use classification to help them decide.
Classification
Classification is a way to organise living things. They are put in groups with similar features.
classification
organise living things
groups with similar features
A finch looks quite different to a peacock, but they both have beaks, wings, and feathers. So both are classified as birds.
Most animals that have fins are classified as fish,
fish
… like sharks, sardines and goldfish.
Today, most scientists use a classification system developed by Carl Linnaeus. He worked in the 18th century.
Carl Linnaeus
Botanist, 18th century
But sometimes, scientists don’t agree about how to classify an animal.
When scientists first saw the platypus, they were confused.
It is such a strange animal that some people didn’t believe it was real.
Finally, the scientists decided that the platypus should be classified as a mammal because it has warm blood, it has fur, and it suckles its young.
Classification groups organisms by their features.
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