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Biologists classify in order to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study and easier to find.

The jaguarondi might have sharp, retractable claws, pointed teeth, and feline behaviors such as hunting other animals.

A list in order of the levels of classification are:

• Domain
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species

Woodchucks have more characteristics in common with squirrels than mice because of their classification in the same family as squirrels.  Woodchucks are furry, can climb, and have furry tails.  So do squirrels.  This is my personal insight, but mice generally do not have furry tails, but pink ones; this is a small but significant difference between woodchucks and mice, thereby separating them more away from mice and more into the squirrel family. 

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A taxonomic key is a ‘useful tool for determining the identity of organisms.’  In other words, it is a key that is used to establish the individual distinctive identity of an organism.  This could include anything from a small bacterium to a developed animal or plant.

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