Video Transcript
The taxonomic hierarchy for a gray
wolf is provided in the diagram. What taxonomic rank is represented
by “Canidae”?
Planet Earth has an incredibly
diverse range of living organisms. To make these organisms easier to
study, scientists have classified them into distinct groups according to their
visible characteristics or evolutionary history. This process is called
taxonomy. After much study, a hierarchical
system of taxonomy has been developed. In the diagram provided by the
question, we have been shown seven taxonomic groups, each one more specific than the
one above it.
One of the broadest taxonomic
groups is the kingdom. According to Whittaker, life can be
divided into five kingdoms: Protista, consisting of eukaryotic unicellular organisms
or simple cellular colonies; Fungi; Monera, consisting of all prokaryotic organisms;
Plantae; and Animalia. Each of these kingdoms is very
diverse but has certain common characteristics. Wolves fall within the kingdom
Animalia. Every following taxonomic rank
groups animals with more and more common characteristics.
The next broadest taxonomic ranking
is the phylum. Animals within the phylum Chordata
include all animals that possess a notochord at least at one point in their
lifetime, which is the case for the gray wolf. Next, Chordata split into
classes. Mammalia is the class which
contains all mammals.
The next step in the taxonomic
classification is called the order. Wolves are in the order Carnivora,
which means that they are meat eaters or carnivores. After the order, the remaining
animals are split into families. Canidae is a biological family of
dog-like carnivores. The genus of the gray wolf is
Canis, which also includes dogs, coyotes, and jackals.
The most specific taxonomic
grouping we will discuss is species. This represents a group of
organisms that are similar enough that they can reproduce with each other to produce
fertile offspring. The gray wolf is in the species
lupus. And the shortened version of its
scientific name includes the first letter of its genus “C.” for Canis
and its species, as shown here.
Now, let’s return to our
question. The taxonomic rank which is
represented by Canidae is the family.
