Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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You can find all my A Level Biology videos fully indexed at freesciencelessons.co.uk/a-level-revision-videos/a-level-biology

In this video, we look at the classification of species. First we explore why the use of common names can present problems. We then look at the Linnean classification system and the use of binomial names. Finally, we explore what is meant by a species.

Image credits

Fern
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Unfurling_fern_-_geograph.org.uk_-_187896.jpg
Hugh Chevallier / Unfurling fern

Cypress
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cupressus_funebris_02.jpg
Melburnian, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Ladybird
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BIEDRONA.JPG#file
Author: Dominik Stodulski

Cetonia-aurata
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cetonia-aurata.jpg
I, Chrumps, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Caterpillar
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ethmia_bipunctella-01_(xndr).jpg
I, Svdmolen, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons

Elephant
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:African_elephant_(Loxodonta_africana)_2.jpg
Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Giraffe
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giraffe_July_2008-1.jpg
Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tiger
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger_facial_marking_Sultan_(T72)_Ranthambhore_India_12.10.2014.jpg
Dibyendu Ash, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tuna
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tuna_1.jpg
Takashi Hososhima, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Clownfish
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amphiprion_ocellaris_(Clown_anemonefish)_Nemo.jpg
Nhobgood Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coccinella septempunctata
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coccinella-septempunctata-15-fws.jpg
Francisco Welter-Schultes, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coccinella transversalis
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transverse_ladybird_(Coccinella_transversalis).jpg
Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coccinella monticola
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lady_Beetle_-_Coccinella_monticola,_Plumas_County,_California.jpg
Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Coccinella transversoguttata
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coccinella_transversoguttata.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Coccinella_transversoguttata.jpg

Carl Linnaeus
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_von_Linn%C3%A9,_1707-1778,_botanist,_professor_(Alexander_Roslin)_-_Nationalmuseum_-_15723.tif
Alexander Roslin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Systema Naturae
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Linnaeus1758-title-page.jpg
Carl Linnaeus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Dog
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooks_Chase_Ranger_of_Jolly_Dogs_Jack_Russell.jpg
JOLLY-DOGS-JACK-RUSSELL, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cat
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orange_tabby_cat_sitting_on_fallen_leaves-Hisashi-01A.jpg
Orange_tabby_cat_sitting_on_fallen_leaves-Hisashi-01.jpg: Hisashi from Japanderivative work: Caspian blue, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Horse
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Haflinger_horse_on_pasture_in_the_Netherlands.jpg
Paula Jantunen (user Niora), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Donkey
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Equus_asinus_(Donkey),_Arnhem,_the_Netherlands.jpg
Bj.schoenmakers, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mule
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Navajo_Nation_Mule_9-15_(21800633621).jpg

Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons