Page 107 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

CHAPTER 6

Introduction to Animals

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Demonstrate the scientific classification of animals
• Describe how genetics influences the offspring of animals
• Recognize the most common types of dogs, cats, and pocket pets
• Determine the sex of dogs, cats, and pocket pets

NAVTA SKILLS CRITERIA COVERED IN THIS CHAPTER
IV. Examination Room Procedures
B. Basic procedures
4. Recognize AKC dog breeds and CFA cat breeds
5. Be able to identify the gender of small animal species,
particularly felines

Scientific Classification and bacteria. (Viruses and prions cause disease but they
of Animals do not meet the criteria to be considered living.) Each
kingdom is further divided until each organism is classified
by genus, then species, and finally by breed or variety. The
The Linnaean System of Classifications is a cladistics classifications groupings are as follows:
system, based on evolutionary differences in the genomes. Kingdom
Originally, it classified animals by the way they moved.
Refinements were made with the discovery of more Phylum
species and recognition of evolutionary classifications. Class
Developments in sequencing deoxyribonucleic acid Order
(DNA) has led to further refinement of this system. Family
Scientific classification groups life forms into increas- Genus
ingly smaller groups based on increasingly similar charac- Species
teristics. Classification and scientific names were developed Breed or variety
to make it easier to describe and provide specific
information about an animal. All living things are divided In veterinary medicine you may see the scientific
into six kingdoms: animals, plants, fungi, protozoa, archaea, name of animals being used. This includes the genus

Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant, Fourth Edition. Teresa F. Sonsthagen.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Companion website: www.wiley.com/go/sonsthagen/tasks 91