Taxonomy STAAR Questions

There are approximately 113 species and subspecies of snakes in Texas. Why would it be important for scientists to use a standardized taxonomic system when naming each species of snake?

• To ensure that all species of snakes are located in the fossil record

• To avoid confusion in the identification of a variety of snake species

• To place snakes in various groups based on their habitats in the ecosystem

• To determine the impact of removing one species of snake from their habitat in the ecosystem

Why is it important to assign each organism a scientific name?

• Each scientific name applies to only one species, making it universally identifiable to scientists.

• Each scientific name allows scientists to better study the behavior of an organism.

• The scientific name allows scientists to develop common names for organisms.

• The scientific name describes how an individual looks relative to others of the same genus.

Two scientists want to compare their research of fireflies. Which information must the two scientists provide to each other to determine if they studied the same type of fireflies?

• Size of the firefly populations

• Type of habitat in which the fireflies live

• Color of light produced by the fireflies

• Species name of the fireflies studied

The gray squirrel, Eastern fox squirrel, and red squirrel are all different species of squirrels. Why is having a scientific name for each species of an organism important?

• To prevent existing named organisms from having their names changed as they become extinct

• To keep the classification system from being altered as new organisms are discovered

• To allow organisms to be placed in many classification levels at the same time

• To standardize the naming and organization of organisms to avoid confusion

Blue whales and narwhals are both marine mammals in Order Cetacea. Which other classification group must these whales share?

• Family

• Phylum

• Genus

• Species

Many tree frog populations are threatened due to habitat loss. In an effort to promote conservation, tree frogs may be bred in captivity. A zoo acquired male and female tree frogs from two different populations. In the zoo, the tree frogs were able to successfully mate within their own population, but breeding attempts between the two populations were unsuccessful. Based on this information, which statement correctly describes the relationship between the two populations of tree frogs?

• They are in the same species but different kingdoms.

• They are in the same class but different phyla.

• They are in the same family but different orders.

• They are in the same genus but different species.

A student used a microscope to study four members of the phylum Ciliophora. Members of this phylum move when propelled by hundreds of tiny cilia. Although these organisms belong to the same phylum, they are classified as different —

• families

• species

• kingdoms

• orders