Practice Worksheet on Taxonomy and Classification - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step through each question.

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Question 4: Fill in the blanks for biological classification.

The standard order of biological classification (from broadest to most specific) is:

Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species

So we fill in the blanks like this:

Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order
→ Family → Genus → Species

*(Note: The arrow layout in the question skips some levels, but we follow the full sequence and place them where the arrows point.)*

Looking at the structure given:

> Kingdom → ________________ → Class → ________________
> → ________________ → Genus → ________________

We match it as:

- After Kingdom comes Phylum
- After Class comes Order
- Then after Order comes Family (which goes before Genus)
- After Genus comes Species

So filled in:

Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order
→ Family → Genus → Species

✔ Correct.

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Question 5: In each pair, circle the one that you would expect to find the most individual species.

Remember: The higher up the classification level (like Kingdom), the more diverse and numerous the species are. The lower down (like Genus or Species), the fewer species there are.

Let’s look at each pair:

1. Kingdom & Genus → Kingdom has WAY more species (e.g., Animalia includes millions; a genus might have only a few). → Circle Kingdom

2. Order & Phylum → Phylum is broader than Order → Circle Phylum

3. Order & Class → Class is broader than Order → Circle Class

4. Phylum & Kingdom → Kingdom is broader → Circle Kingdom

5. Genus & Order → Order is broader → Circle Order

6. Phylum & Class → Phylum is broader → Circle Phylum

7. Genus & Species → Genus contains multiple species → Circle Genus

Wait — let’s list all pairs from the image clearly:

From the image:

Left column:
- Kingdom & Genus → Kingdom
- Order & Phylum → Phylum
- Order & Class → Class

Middle column:
- Phylum & Kingdom → Kingdom
- Genus & Order → Order
- Genus & Species → Genus

Right column:
- Class & Family → Class (since Class > Family)
- Phylum & Class → Phylum

Actually, looking again — the right column says:

“Class & Family” → Class is higher → circle Class

“Phylum & Class” → Phylum is higher → circle Phylum

But wait — the original image shows:

In the right column:

> Class & Family
> Phylum & Class

Yes.

So final circles:

- Kingdom & Genus → Kingdom
- Order & Phylum → Phylum
- Order & Class → Class
- Phylum & Kingdom → Kingdom
- Genus & Order → Order
- Genus & Species → Genus
- Class & Family → Class
- Phylum & Class → Phylum

✔ All correct based on hierarchy.

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Question 6: Which three animals is the tiger most closely related to?

Look at the chart:

Scientific Name | Common Name
Panthera onca | Jaguar
Panthera pardus | Leopard
Felis lybica | African Wild Cat
Panthera leo | Lion
Felis catus | House cat
Canis lupus | Wolf
Panthera tigris | Tiger ← our focus

Tiger = *Panthera tigris*

Animals with same Genus (*Panthera*) are most closely related.

Those are:

- Panthera onca → Jaguar
- Panthera pardus → Leopard
- Panthera leo → Lion

So the three closest relatives: Jaguar, Leopard, Lion

✔ Answer: Jaguar, Leopard, Lion

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Question 7: Would you expect an animal with the name Rania onca to look similar to a mountain lion? Why or why not?

First — note: “Rania onca” is made up. But we can analyze using naming rules.

Mountain lion is also called *Puma concolor* — NOT in the *Panthera* genus.

But here’s the key: The second part of the name — “onca” — matches *Panthera onca* (Jaguar).

In binomial nomenclature, the second name (species) doesn’t tell us about relation — it’s the first name (genus) that matters.

“Rania” is not a real genus we know — but if two animals share the same genus, they’re closely related.

Here, “Rania onca” vs “mountain lion” (*Puma concolor*) — different genera → not closely related.

Also, “onca” alone doesn’t mean anything without the genus.

So: No, because “Rania” is not the same genus as mountain lion’s genus (*Puma*), and even though “onca” appears in jaguar’s name, that doesn’t make it related to mountain lion.

Better answer: Even if the species name is similar (“onca”), if the genus is different (“Rania” vs “Puma”), they are not closely related and likely don’t look similar.

✔ Answer: No, because the genus name “Rania” is different from the mountain lion’s genus “Puma”, so they are not closely related. Similar species names don’t mean similarity if the genus is different.

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Question 8: Which animal is the house cat closest to?

House cat = *Felis catus*

Look for other animals in the same genus: *Felis*

From chart:

- Felis lybica → African Wild Cat
- Felis catus → House cat

So only one other in same genus: African Wild Cat

✔ Answer: African Wild Cat

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## Final Answer:

4.
Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order
→ Family → Genus → Species

5. Circle these:
- Kingdom & Genus → Kingdom
- Order & Phylum → Phylum
- Order & Class → Class
- Phylum & Kingdom → Kingdom
- Genus & Order → Order
- Genus & Species → Genus
- Class & Family → Class
- Phylum & Class → Phylum

6. Jaguar, Leopard, Lion

7. No, because the genus name “Rania” is different from the mountain lion’s genus “Puma”. Animals must share the same genus to be closely related and look similar. The species name “onca” alone doesn’t indicate relation.

8. African Wild Cat