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They are multicellular organisms which do not possess chlorophyll.

They are eukaryotic organisms.

Cell wall is absent.

Mode of nutrition is heterotrophic i.e. they depend on other organisms for food.

They have muscle cells due to which they have the capability to contract and relax the body parts.

Reproduction is sexual. However, asexual reproduction is also found in lower forms.

During development, multicellular embryo is formed from the zygote.

They require oxygen for aerobic respiration

https://www.toppr.com/ask/en-us/question/give-the-characteristics-of-kingdom-animalia/

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Mammals, Birds (Warm Blooded Vertebrates)
Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians (Cold Blooded Vertebrates)

Invertebrates are determined by how many legs (if any legs) the animal has.

https://stylesatlife.com/articles/types-of-animals/

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Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia. All types of animal are motile which means they can move independently and spontaneously from the point of their lives. All animals are heterotrophs. Most known animal phyla marine species. Animals are sub dived into various sub-groups like vertebrates, mollusks, arthropods, annelids, sponges and fishes. These subgroups are sub-classified into their respective groups.

As animals are heterotrophs, it means they feed on living organism directly or indirectly. Again these are subdivided into herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and parasites. Generally, all animals are predators. It means they hunt for food on other living organisms. In general extinction of some animals had taken place since some year due to variations in the earth.

Animals are generally considered to have evolved from a flagellated eukaryote. These are living close to hydrothermal vents and cold seeps on the ocean floor will not depend on the energy of sunlight. Animals are divided into two broad groups: vertebrates and invertebrates. Vertebrates are animals which have a backbone. Invertebrates are animals which do not have a backbone. There are different types of animals in the world. Here today we briefly explain about the list of 25 different types of animals in the world with their photos.

Different Types Of Animals List In The World:

Check out the different types of wild animals below:

1. StarFish:

Family and History: It is classified into a higher classification of Asterozoa. Starfish are sea stars which are in a star shape. These are even called by other names like basket stars and brittle stars. There are about 1500 species of starfish on the seabed all over the world. They are marine invertebrates. These are opportunistic feeders. They can regenerate the damaged parts or shed parts on their own.

Scientific name: Asteroidea.

Breed: Asteroidea

Height: Five to Ten Inches

Weight: Up to 11 Pounds

Lifespan: Up to 35 Years

Feeding: Small fish, Mussels and Clams

Country Of Origin: Atlantic Region

2. Frog:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification Salientia. Frogs also come under animals group. Frogs are large carnivores and are diverse. They are short-bodied and tailless amphibian. There are about 4,800 species present in the world. This is the first most vertebrate in order. It is three-chambered heart. Locomotion of frog is jumping, walking, running, swimming, burrowing, climbing, and gliding. Clutch size of the toads will be of 3000-6000.

Scientific name: Anura.

Breed: Salientia

Height: 5.5cm

Weight: Around 28gm

Lifespan: 10-12 years.

Feeding: Insects, Small Frogs, Worms

Country Of Origin: Europe
See More: Types Of Sandals
3. Salamander:

Family and History: It is classified under the phylum amphibian. Clutch size is about 400-500 for Chinese giant salamander. These are mostly seen in Holarctic Ecozone and Neotropical zone. These are also opportunistic predators. Respiration differs one to others like gills, lungs, skin and membranes of mouth and throat. Life span is not determined.

Scientific name: Caudata

Breed: phylum amphibian

Height: Its body length is about 1.2m for Chinese giant salamander and 12-19cm fro Cope's giant salamander.

Weight: Mass of the salamander animal is 25-30kg.

Lifespan: Around 20 years

Feeding: Insects, Small Frogs, Worms, Crickets

Country Of Origin: North America

4. Chameleon:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification of Lguania. There are about 202 species in the world. Its clutch size is 20-200 for the veiled chameleon and 10-40 for panther chameleon. They have the ability to change the colors according to the environment. Since guanine crystals under the skin make them change color. These animals are mostly found in rain forest areas. These are carnivores.

Scientific name: Scientific name of chameleon is chamaeleonidae.

Breed: Lguania

Height: Length of the body is about 35-45cm and differs according to species.

Weight: 140gm to 180gm

Lifespan: 5 to 10 Years

Feeding: Crickets, Worms and Leaves

Country Of Origin: Africa

5. Crocodile:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification of crocodiles. These are large aquatic reptiles which live throughout the tropics in Asia, Africa, Australia and America. Speed of diving will be 24-2 km/h in water in short bursts. There is a total of 14 extant species. These animals belong to carnivores.

Scientific name: Scientific name of the crocodile is Crocodylinae

Breed: Reptiles

Height: Length of the body will range from 4.3-5.2 for adults and these also vary accordingly.

Weight: Mass of the body of the crocodile will be 410 kg and mass varies according to the species.

Lifespan: Life span of a crocodile is 70-80 years.

Feeding: Animals, Fish, Birds

Country Of Origin: Asia
See More: Images Of Different Types Of Houses
6. Nilgai:

Family and History: Nilgai is the largest Asian antelope. It is majorly present in India, some parts of southern Nepal and eastern Pakistan. Males have horns whereas females don't. Males are larger than females. These are herbivores and prefer to live in low hills with shrubs. These types of animals give birth one at a time and sometimes twins.

Scientific name: Boselaphustragocamelus.

Breed: Mammals

Height: Around 6 Feet.

Weight: Calves usually weigh 14-16 kg at birth.

Lifespan: Life span is about 12-13 Years.

Feeding: Grass, Plants, Leaves

Country Of Origin: India

7. Lion-Tailed Macaque:

Family and History: Lion-tailed macaque is the name of a monkey. It is an old-world monkey. A special feature of this animal monkey is it has hair around the face like a lion. These belong to a group of smaller macaques. These animals are mostly found in tropical evergreen forests. Younger ones are nursed for one year. These are herbivores and avoid humans.

Scientific name: Macacasilenus

Breed: Mammals

Height: Around 2 Feet.

Weight: It weighs about 2-10 Kg

Lifespan: Life span of this monkey is about 20-30 years.

Feeding: Grass, Plants, Leaves, fruits, animals, insects

Country Of Origin: India

8. Felidae:

Family and History: It comes under the classification of Feliformia. Felidae is a family of cats. These are mammals. Living cats belong to subfamilies called Panterinae and feline. Pantherinae includes tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, clouded leopard and snow leopard. Felinae includes non-pantherine cats. All cats are carnivores. Cats have good night vision due to the presence of tapetum lucidum which reflects light back inside the eyeball and give distinctive shine. Life span these animals varies according to cats.

Scientific name: Scientific name of Felidae is Felidae only.

Breed: Mammals

Height: 25 cm

Weight: 4.5 kg

Lifespan: 2-16 years

Feeding: Animals, Birds, Fish, Insects

Country Of Origin: Asia

9. Sea Lions:

Family and History: It is classified under higher classification of Eared Seal. In this world, we can see only seven species of sea lions. This group of animals is called as pinnipeds. Sea lions are very compatible with nature where they live. Sea lions are carnivores. Interesting fact of the sea lion is they take food 5-8% of their body weight at a single feed.

Scientific name: Scientific name of the sea lion is Otariine.

Breed: Mammals

Height: 3 Feet

Weight: 45 kg

Lifespan: Life span of sea lions is 20-30 years.

Feeding: Seafood like fishes, crabs etc.

Country Of Origin: Arctic Regions
See More: Types Of Indian Houses
10. Butterfly:

Family and History: Butterfly comes under insects phyla.. It comes under the classification of Lepidoptera. They feed primarily on nectar from flowers. These are also called as carriers for the pollination of fruits. There are wide ranges of species available in the world. They are compatible with all the natures in the regions.

Scientific name: Scientific name of the butterfly is Rhopalocera

Breed: Insects

Height: Wingspan of the butterfly is 6.5-8.6 cm and varies according to the species.

Weight: 0.3 gm

Lifespan: Life span of a butterfly is about 12 months.

Feeding: Nectar

Country Of Origin: All Over the World (different species originated in different countries)

11. Bee:

Family and History: It comes under the classification of Apoidea. Bees are flying insects which are closely related to ants and wasps. There are lots of species of bees worldwide. These are the best carriers for pollination. Honey which is secreted by a bee is used for medicinal purpose and many others.

Scientific name: Scientific name of bees are Ainthophila.

Breed: Insects

Height: Length of the bee is 1.1-1.3cm.

Weight: 0.25 gm

Lifespan: Life span is about 12 months for early bumblebee which is queen and 3 years for Western honey bee queen.

Feeding: Nectar, Pollen

Country Of Origin: East Africa

12. Octopus:

Family and History: Octopus comes under the phyla Mollusca. These are highly intelligent. These mainly eat crabs. Octopus is eaten in many cultures. They also grown as pets

Scientific name: Scientific name is Octopoda comes under the classification of Octopodiformes.

Breed: Molluscs

Height: Length will be of 4.3m.

Weight: This animal mass is about 15 kg.

Lifespan: Life span is about 3-5 years.

Feeding: Worms, Prawns, Fish

Country Of Origin: East Asia

13. Gastropoda:

Family and History: Gastropoda comes under the phylum Molluscs. It is classified under the classification of Molluscs. These are commonly called as slugs and snails. There are thousands of species of sea snails, sea slugs, freshwater snails, land slug and land snails are seen. There 611 families. This type of animals has univalve. These are herbivores. These have shells which act as a protective cover for the body.

Scientific name: Scientific name of Gastropoda is Gastropoda only

Breed: Molluscs

Height: 27.3 cm

Weight: 25gm to 45gm

Lifespan: Life span is about 2-3 years.

Feeding: Plants, Algae and Fungi

Country Of Origin: North America

14. Crab:

Family and History: Crabs come under the phyla crustaceans. It is classified under the classification of Pleocyemata. It has short projecting tail usually hidden under the thorax. There are many crabs like hermit, porcelain, horseshoe and king crabs. Crabs typically walk sideways. These are active animals with complex behavior. Long-tail consists of poison. The crabs are taken as food all over the world.

Scientific name: Scientific name of crab is brachyuran.

Breed: Crustaceans

Height: Its length is about 1.8m.

Weight: Around 1 to 3 pounds

Lifespan: 20 to 30 Years

Feeding: Corals, Fish, Dead Animals

Country Of Origin: South East Asia

15. Amphipoda:

Family and History: It comes under the classification of Peracarida.These have laterally compressed body and are mostly scavengers and detritivores. There are about 9,500 Amphipoda species present in the world. Species of Amphipoda are taken as food all over the world.

Scientific name: Scientific name of Amphipoda is Amphipoda only.

Breed: Crustaceans

Height: Size ranges from 1 to 340 millimetre

Weight: Around 50 gm

Lifespan: 18 Months

Feeding: Shell Fish, Organic waste, worms

Country Of Origin: Thailand and Vietnam

16. Scorpion:

Family and History: They come under the classification dromopoda. These types of animals are about 1750 species present in the world. Only 25 species contain venom which is capable of killing a human. Scorpions sting are painful and but harmless. Survive temperature of scorpion ranges from 20 to 37 °C. Scorpions are opportunistic predators.

Scientific name: Scorpiones

Breed: Arachnids

Height: Size range of scorpion is 9mm to 20cm.

Weight: Around 30 gm

Lifespan: 3 to 5 Years

Feeding: Insects, Spiders, Lizards

Country Of Origin: Germany

17. Dog:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification of grey wolf Its gestation period is about 63 days. It sleeps for 10 hours per day. The life span of a dog varies according to the species. These types of animals are carnivores. Species of dogs are available in larger. All dogs are domesticated. These are used for hunting, protection and pulling etc.

Scientific name: Scientific name of the dog is Canis lupus Familiaris

Breed: Mammals

Height: Height of the dog at the shoulder is 16-86cm.

Weight: Around 40 Kgs

Lifespan: Due to the occurrence of natural causes it lives up to 13 years according to the survey.

Feeding: Animals, Birds, Fish, Bread

Country Of Origin: England

18. Rhinoceros:

Family and History: It is classified into lower classification as black rhinoceros and upper classification as Odd-toed ungulate. Running speed of rhinoceros is 50km per hour. These animals are herbivores.

Scientific name: Scientific name of rhinoceros is Rhinocerotidae.

Breed: Mammals

height: height is 1.7-1.8m to the shoulder.

Weight: Mass of rhinoceros varies from 800-1400kg.

Lifespan: Life span of rhinoceros is 40-50 years for white and 35-50 for black rhinoceros.

Feeding: Plants, Grass

Country Of Origin: Africa

19. Deer:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification of Pecora. Species include mule deer, white-tailed deer, reindeer, red deer and fallow deer etc. In this, they differ with permanently horned animals such as antelopes. These animals are mostly seen in African and Asian forests. These are herbivores.

Scientific name: Scientific name of deer is Cervidae

Breed: Mammals

Height: 2 mts

Weight: Its mass is about 30-300kg for adult.

Lifespan: 10-15 Years

Feeding: Plants, Grass

Country Of Origin: Africa and Asia

20. Primate:

Family and History: These are classified under the classification of Primatomorpha. A primate is mamma of the order primates. These are aroused from ancestors who lived in the trees of tropical forests. There are twenty five species are seen in this type of animal so far in the world. These are mostly seen in tropical forests of Asia and African regions.

Scientific name: Scientific name of primate is Primates.

Breed: Mammals

Height: 1.2 mts

Weight: Mass of the body will rage form 20-200kg

Lifespan: 10-15 Years

Feeding: Plants, Grass, Fruits, Insects and Small Animals

Country Of Origin: Sahara

21. Bear:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification of Caniformia. It can run up to 48 km/ h in the adult stage. Vocalization sin bear are moaning, huffing, barking, growling, roaring and humming. They eat mostly plants but become omnivores in opportunistic conditions.

Scientific name: Scientific name bear is Ursidae

Breed: Mammals

Height: Height at the shoulders will be 60-160cm. Its tail length will be 3-22cm and body length will be of 1.2-3m.

Weight: 80kg to 600 kg

Lifespan: 20 Years

Feeding: Fish, Small animals, fruits, honey, leaves

Country Of Origin: Asia

22. Lion:

Family and History: These animals are classified under the higher classification of a panther. These are pure carnivores. It is one of the five big cats. There are about 12 species of lions recognized so far. Majorly lions are seen most in African regions only.

Scientific name: Scientific name of the lion is Panthera Leo.

Breed: Mammals

Height: Height at the shoulder level will be 1.2m.

Weight: Mass is about 190kg.

Lifespan: Life span is about 10-14 years.

Feeding: Meat

Country Of Origin: Africa

23. Cattle:

Family and History: It is classified under the classification of Bos. Cattle are generally known as cows. It is mostly domesticated. The gestation period is of 274 days. It sleeps for about 4 hours daily. There are about 1.3 billion cattle in the world.

Scientific name: Scientific name of cattle is Bos Taurus.

Breed: Mammals

Height: 117 mts

Weight: Mass is about 190kg.

Lifespan: 30 Years

Feeding: Grass, Fodder, Plants, Leaves

Country Of Origin: Asia

24. Tortoise:

Family and History: Tortoise is an animal which comes under reptiles. It is classified into a higher classification of Testudinidae. This animal is both vertebra and ribcage. It is unique among vertebrates. Tortoises are domesticated. These are herbivores. Clutch size is of about 30 eggs.

Scientific name: Scientific name is Testudinidae

Breed: Reptiles

Height: Up to 2 mts

Weight: Upto 400 kgs

Lifespan: Up to 100 Years

Feeding: Grass, Vegetables, Insects, Plants, Leaves

Country Of Origin: Asia

25. Rabbit:

Family and History: Rabbits are small animals from the family of leporidae. These animals are found in several parts of the world. There are about 13 species and 8 in general. Young rabbits are called as kitten or kit. Male is called as buck and female doe. Rabbits are most active at dawn than dusk. They sleep for 8.4 hours. These are herbivores.

Scientific name: Scientific name is Oryctolagus cuniculus

Breed: Mammals

Height: 20 -50 cm

Weight: Upto 4,5 kgs

Lifespan: Life span of the rabbit is about 3 years.

Feeding: Grass, Vegetables, Insects, Plants, Leaves

Country Of Origin: Asia

The world is a mysterious place. With scientists discovering new species of animals every day, one can understand how vast our world is and how little we know. Animals are very important to maintain natural ecology and each animal contributes to the environment. The animals listed in this article are some of the most prominent species of the animal kingdom. It's important to respect these amazing beings and learn how to co-exist with them.

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25 Different Types Of Animals In The World With Images

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Did you ever wonder how many animal types exist in this world? Animals coexist with humans and we observe different species of them around us. Check out this article to know some of the different types of animals in the world.

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Animals are categorized as vertebrates (animals with a backbone) or invertebrates (animals that lack a backbone).
They are divided into 7 different phylums.
Animals can be classified according to different physical characteristics, such as body covering (e.g., hair, fur, feathers, scales, shells), body shape (e.g., two main features, three main features), appendages (e.g., arms, legs, wings, fins, tails), and method of movement (e.g., walking, crawling, flying, swimming).
https://www.microscopemaster.com/kingdom-animalia.html
https://actingcolleges.org/library/acting-questions/read/212360-what-are-5-ways-to-classify-animals

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The Kingdom Animalia is a large group that consists of eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that are heterotrophic in nature. As such, they obtain their nutrition from external sources. Although they are unable to produce their own food, which is one of the main defining characteristics of plants, animal cells lack a cell wall that is present in plant cells.

With the exception of a few animals, the majority of animals are motile which allows them to effectively respond to stimuli and find food, etc. In general, animals are divided into two main groups namely, vertebrates (animals with a backbone) and invertebrates (animals that lack a backbone). However, they are also divided into several phyla that will be discussed below in detail.

Some examples of animals include:

Human beings

Cows

Fish

Birds

Sponges - Invertebrate

Lobster - Invertebrate

Spiders - Invertebrate

Clams - Invertebrate

Kingdom Animalia Classification

As mentioned, all animals are divided into two main categories/groups: vertebrates and invertebrates.

Vertebrates include all animals classified under the subphylum Vertebrata. They belong to the phylum Chordata and possess a backbone/vertebrae (where the spinal cord is located). They are also characterized by an internal skeletal system on which muscles are attached.

Vertebrate animals are classified into seven main classes that include:

The majority of species are characterized by epidermal hair and the females give birth and suckle the young. However, duck-billed and spiny anteater lay eggs.

Aves/Birds - Animals that are characterized by wings, feathers, and a beak. Reproduction involves laying eggs that vary in size depending on the type of bird. Examples of birds include kiwi, emu, chicken, and woodpecker among others. Some birds have wings but cannot fly. On the other hand, some animals like bats have wings but are classified as mammals. Therefore, not all animals that fly are classified as birds.

Reptiles (cold-blooded) are four-legged animals and are characterized by the presence of a tail and dermal scales. For the majority of species, eggs are fertilized internally resulting in direct development of the organism. Reptile examples include turtles, snakes, and crocodiles among others.

Amphibians include cold-blooded animals that spend part of their lives in water. While they can absorb oxygen through their skin in a moist environment, some species (or in some stage of their life) have gills used to breathe in water. They can also breathe using lungs on land. They lay jelly-like eggs in moist environments or in water and include frogs and salamanders etc.

This group consists of jaw-less animals that look like fish. Some of the species like Lampreys are characterized by a large head, a notochord, and a sensory system.

Osteichthyes are true fish and are often referred to as bony fish. As such, they are characterized by bone tissue (rather than cartilage). Some of the other characteristics associated with this group include fused teeth, lobed fins, and a skull. Members of this group include clownfish and ray-finned fish among others.

Chondrichthyes consists of organisms with a cartilaginous skeleton and are therefore known as cartilaginous fishes. While a few species have been identified in freshwater environments, the majority of species are found throughout the ocean.

* Given that vertebrate animals comprise a single phylum, they make up less than five (5) percent of all known animals.

While vertebrates comprise of only one phylum, invertebrates make up the remaining phyla of the kingdom animalia. As the name suggests, invertebrates lack a backbone and internal skeletons. However, some of the species have an external skeletal system, the exoskeleton, that provides structural support. Currently, invertebrates are suggested to make up over 97 percent of all animals in the Animal kingdom.

Being such a diverse group, invertebrates are classified based on a number of characteristics including morphology/structure, symmetry and life cycle, etc. Whereas some of the organisms have three body layers, others (primitive invertebrates) only have two body layers. Examples of invertebrate animals include insects (like spiders and ticks), snails, sea stars, sponges, and hydra, etc.

While all animals within the Kingdom Animalia are multicellular organisms, they exhibit different patterns of cell organization. For this reason, they are also classified based on the level of organization of their cells.

Here, they are divided into three main levels which include:

Cellular level - The cells of animals at this level of organization form loose aggregates. While the cells of these animals (e.g. sponges) are specialized in a manner that allows them to perform different functions, cells that are similar are not organized together to form tissue.

For this reason, the bodies of these organisms are loose aggregations that consist of different types of cells. While the cells in these organisms are not necessarily organized into tissue, it's worth noting that some of the cells (e.g. pinacocytes) form layers and serve given functions.

Tissue level of organization - Animals with this level of organization have cells that perform the same functions and are arranged together to form tissue. For the majority of these organisms, the body consists of two main layers that are separated by a middle layer known as mesogloea (the middle/third layer is non-cellular).

Being diploblastic (consist of two main layers of cells), this organism consists of an outer layer known as the ectoderm, making up the epidermis, and the inner layer that lines the inner part of the body known as the endoderm (making up the gastrodermis). The body also consists of an inner body cavity.

Organ system level of organization - For organisms with this level of organization, the tissues are arranged together to form organs.

While all the cells in the organ may not perform the same functions, they are related and contribute to the purpose of the organ. Some of the organisms with this level of organization include simpler organisms like Platyhelminthes and other organisms of the higher Phyla (human beings etc).

Here, organs are also connected in an organ system and function together. A good example of this is an organ system that consists of the kidneys, bladder, and the ureter forming a functional urinary system. While each of the organs has a different function, they are all involved in the removal of waste material from the body.

In addition to the level of organization, animals are also classified based on body symmetry (arrangement of the parts of the body around the central point).

While some of the organisms are asymmetrical, and can therefore not be divided into two equal or similar halves along the central plane, others are symmetrical where the two halves will be equal/similar when the body is divided into two parts along the central plane.

Generally, the majority of organisms at the cellular level of organization have been shown to be asymmetrical while those at the tissue/organ level of organization are either radial or bilaterally symmetrical.

For animals that exhibit bilateral symmetry (e.g. human beings, butterfly, dogs, etc), dividing the organisms into two halves from the head to the tail along the central part will result in two equal halves. Each half will be a mirror image of the other.

Several animals have radial symmetry and can, therefore, have many lines of symmetry. Because they have several parts arranged around the central point, they can be divided along several lines and be adjacent showing division resulting in halves that are mirror images of the other half.

Some of the organisms with radial symmetry include corals, sea anemones, and jerry fish among others.

Compared to animals that are characterized by bilateral symmetry, a good number of these animals (with radial symmetry) do not have bodies with distinct fronts (head parts) and ends. Rather, their bodies are mostly characterized by top and bottom sides with various important organs being located on these sides.

The mouth part of a starfish is located at the central part of the lower or bottom surface. They are commonly found in aquatic environments where they feed on food material delivered by water currents.

While a good number of animals, particularly those with a tissue or organ level of organization, are characterized by a radial or bilateral symmetry, some animals, especially those with a cellular level of organization (e.g. sponges) tend to be asymmetrical and therefore cannot be divided into two equal halves. Most of these organisms are simple with a basic body plan because the cells are not organized into tissue or organs.

Diagrammatic representation of a sponge - By looking at this image, it's evident that it cannot be divided into two equal halves. As such, it's asymmetrical.

Animals are also classified on the basis of body cavity (coelom). This cavity is normally formed during embryo development. Unlike the gut, which consists of the endoderm, the coelom is surrounded by the mesoderm.

For this reason, the majority of animals with a coelom have a mesoderm. It's located between the body wall of an organism and the alimentary canal. Some examples of these cavities in the body include the peritoneal cavity and the space around the lungs.

Some of the main functions of this cavity include:

· Protecting organs from mechanical shock

· Defines the shape of some organisms and also contributes to locomotion

· Involved in the transport of gases, nutrients, and waste material

· Provides a space required for development and functions of given organs

Based on the body cavity, animals are classified into the following groups:

As the name suggests, acoelomates are animals that lack a true body cavity. The majority of these animals are simple organisms including members of the phylum Platyhelminthes.

Because they lack a true body cavity, the mesodermal tissue plays an important role in holding given tissue or organs in place. Acoelomates include a variety of animals including some of those with radial and bilateral symmetry as well as asymmetric animals.
See also Helminths.
While organisms classified in this group have a body cavity, the cavity is not derived from the mesoderm. For this reason, the cavity is often referred to as a false coelom. Some of the most pseudocoelomates include rotifers and nematodes. The body cavity of these organisms is known as pseudocoel (and thus the name pseudocoelomates) and includes animals with bilateral symmetry.

In addition to a few mesenchyme tissue, this cavity may consist of fluid or a gelatinous substance. Some of the main functions of pseudocoel include those associated with digestion, reproduction, and distribution of nutrients in the body. Some of the other organisms classified as Pseudocoelomates include members of the groups Loricifera, Gastrotricha, and Entoprocta.
See also Nematology.
Coelomates include animals with a true coelom. The majority of these organisms are characterized by a tissue or organ system of organization and have bilateral symmetry. Unlike Pseudocoelomates, coelomates have a coelom that is fully or completely derived from the mesoderm. As a space that is located between the body wall and the gut in all vertebrates, it's enclosed between two types of cells (cells that underlie the body wall and those that surround the gut).

Coelomate invertebrates, on the other hand, are triploblastic and are characterized by three cellular body layers that include the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Although it's located between the body wall and the gut, it's worth noting that this cavity is not in direct contact with either. Rather, it's separated from the two by the peritoneum (peritoneal epithelium).

The following is a diagram model of a mollusk showing location of the coelom:

* As the coelom increases in size, contact between the body wall and the peritoneum increases.

Different Phylum under the Kingdom Animalia

In biology, a Phylum is a taxonomic category/level that ranks below Kingdom but above Class. It's an important category that groups organisms based on a set of characteristics that set them apart from other organisms.

In the Kingdom Animalia, animals are divided into a total of eleven (11) Phyla that include:

The name Chordata comes from the Greek words "Chorde" meaning cord or string and "ata" which means bearing. Therefore, chordates (members of the Phylum Chordata) are animals that have a notochord/cord at some point of their lives.

While the majority of animals in the Phylum Chordata have a vertebrate (the majority of higher animals), the group also consists of protochordates (e.g. squirts and amphioxus) which are closely related to vertebrates. While they lack a backbone which is present in all vertebrates, these organisms have a dorsal nerve cord and a notochord and thus qualify to be classified under the Phylum Chordata.

Currently, there are an estimated 65,000 chordate species. While there are not many when compared to some of the other groups, they exhibit great diversity and can be found in a variety of habitats, in aquatic and terrestrial environments, across the world.

Some examples of chordates include:

Main Characteristics of Chordates

· Majority of these organisms have an anterior end that may consist of a head or cephalic region and a posterior end that consist of a tail in a majority of animals

· Bilateral symmetry

· Majority of animals are triploblastic and thus have the three germinal layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm)

· Have a coelom

· Characterized by an organ-system level of organization

The Phylum Porifera consists of some of the earliest known animals. They are commonly found in aquatic environments (particularly in marine environments) where they feed by filtering water in order to trap and capture organic material. Organisms like Sponges are filter feeders and have been shown to be capable of catching about 70 percent of suspended bacteria and organic matter in their surroundings.

For the most part, members of this Phylum are basal animals characterized by a cellular level of organization. As such, they lack true tissue given that cells are not organized into tissue systems.

Because they lack true tissues, and thus organ systems, members of the Phylum are generally characterized by an aquiferous system that consists of canal networks and chambers that allow water to flow in and out.

Some organisms that belong to the Phylum Porifera include:

Demosponge

Calcareous sponge

Siliceous sponge

Hexactinellid sponge

The Phylum Platyhelminthes include organisms known as flatworms. They are dorsoventrally flattened worms and thus lack a coelom. The space between body organs is therefore filled with mesenchyme. Although they have a tissue/organ system level of organization (e.g. have a reproductive system), they lack a circulatory system, a respiratory system, and a true anus.

Like some of the other animals, these organisms are triploblastic and therefore have three embryonic cell layers (the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm). They are also bilaterally symmetrical and can, therefore, be divided into two equal halves from head to tail.

While some of the organisms (e.g. members of the class Turbellaria) can survive in extreme environmental conditions (in sand and rocks etc), the majority of flatworms can be found in aquatic and moist environments.

Some of the organisms that belong to the Phylum Platyhelminthes include:

· Turbellaria (e.g. Gyratrix hermaphroditus, Pseudoceros dimidiatus, Girardia tigrina)

· Trematoda (e.g. Clonorchis sinensis, Schistosoma japonicum, and Metagonimus yokogawai etc)

· Cestoda (e.g. pork tapeworm, fish tapeworm, and Taenia taeniaeformis etc).

Also known as Coelenterata, the Phylum Cnidaria consists of organisms that are commonly found in marine environments. However, a few species, like Hydra, can be found in freshwater environments.

While there are many species of the Phylum Cnidaria, they all have a simple body structure that consists of two cellular layers (endoderm and the ectoderm). These layers are separated by the mesoglea which is a non-cellular, gelatinous layer.

Although they are simple organisms, they have true tissues including the epithelial tissue, muscular tissue, and connective tissue, etc. However, they do not have an organ level of organization and are therefore classified in the tissue grade. Because of their general morphology, they have radial symmetry and can, therefore, be divided along several planes.

Some of the species that belong to the Phylum Cnidaria include:

Members of the Phylum Annelida, known as annelids, are segmented worms found in various habitats, in aquatic and terrestrial environments. While they exhibit significant diversity with regards to the body plan, studies have revealed that the majority of species are coelomate and thus have a body cavity.

They are also characterized by multiple body segments with the first segment (prostomium) consisting of the brain in most of the organisms. The body of these organisms can be divided into three main regions including the prostomium (the head part of the body), the trunk which consists of multiple segments, and the pygidium which is the post-segmental region. They also contain several internal organs that make up the digestive system and circulatory system etc.

* Annelids also display bilateral symmetry.

Some of the species that belong to the Phylum Annelida include:

Members of the Phylum Mollusca (mollusks) are coelomate organisms that exhibit bilateral symmetry. However, some of the species exhibit asymmetrical conditions later on in life. They usually have a soft body that may be protected by a calcareous shell depending on the organism. The ventral part of the body of mollusks consists of a muscular system used for locomotion.

Generally, the majority of these organisms are aquatic and can, therefore, be found in marine and freshwater environments (a few species are found in freshwater). However, some of the species can also be found in terrestrial environments.

Some of the other characteristics associated with mollusks include:

· Are triploblastic and therefore have three primary layers

· Have an organ system level of organization

· Body cavity (the true coelom) is limited to the pericardial cavity as well as lumen of the gonads

· Have an open circulatory system

· Organs that are unique to mollusks include the radula (a feeding structure) and the mantle (a dorsal layer)

Some of the species that belong to the Phylum Mollusca include:

Members of the Phylum Arthropoda are known as arthropods. Although they are invertebrates, arthropods have an exoskeleton that provides structural support to the organism. Generally, arthropods are characterized by a segmented body (consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen) as well as jointed appendages.

Currently, it's estimated that there are over one (1) million species of the Phylum Arthropoda making it one of the largest groups of the Animal kingdom. Over 80 percent of all animals on earth are arthropods. All arthropods have a true coelom that is small in size.

They also exhibit an organ system level of organization with organs forming various organ systems including the digestive system, circulatory system, and the nervous system, etc. They also exhibit bilateral symmetry where the body can be divided into two equal halves.

Some of the organisms that belong to the Phylum Arthropoda include:

Kingdom Animalia: Phylum Hemichordata

Members of the Phylum Hemichordata (Hemichordates) are worm-like invertebrates commonly found in marine environments. Their bodies are divided into three main parts including the proboscis, the collar (mesosome), and the trunk (posterior part of the body).

They exhibit bilateral symmetry and thus the body can be divided into two equal halves. Because they share several characteristics with chordates and members of the Phylum Echinodermata, Hemichordates are sometimes considered to be the link between vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

Like some of the other organisms, members of this group (especially adult organisms) have coeloms, but lack properly developed organ systems as those found in most higher animals.

Some of the animals classified under the Phylum Hemichordata include:

Planctosphaera pelagica

Ptychodera flava

Spartobranchus tenuis

Glossobalanus minutus

Kingdom Animalia: Phylum Echinodermata

The name Echinodermata is derived from the Greek words "echinos" which means spiny and "Dermos" which means skin. Therefore, as the name suggests, these organisms are characterized by a spiny skin.

Members of this group (echinoderms) are commonly found in marine habitats where they feed on seaweed. They are also described as invertebrate coelomates given that they have a spacious coelom located between the gut and body wall.

They exhibit an organ system level of organization and posses various important structures including a mouth and a complete digestive system. Although they can reproduce sexually, they are also capable of regeneration.

Some of the species classified under this phylum include:

Common starfish

Green sea urchin

Echinus esculentus

Blue sea star

Arkarua

Protoreaster nodosus

* Members of this group generally exhibit radial symmetry

Kingdom Animalia: Phylum Ctenophora

Members of the Phylum Ctenophora are commonly referred to as Ctenophores. They are invertebrate organisms commonly found in marine waters across the globe. Ctenophores are jelly-like organisms characterized by a soft-body that exhibits biradial symmetry.

Like Platyhelminthes and members of the Phylum Cnidaria, Ctenophores are acoelomate and thus lack a true body cavity. Members of this group are also characterized by comb rows (eight in total) used for movement.

Some of the organisms that belong to this phylum include:

Aschelminthes are aquatic organisms that are bilaterally symmetrical and exhibit an organ-system level of organization. They are triploblastic and therefore have three germinal layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm).

Although they have a flattened, worm-like body, studies have shown them to be pseudocoelomate (which originates from the blastocoel) and therefore do not have a true body cavity. They lack the respiratory and circulatory system commonly found in other animals but have a digestive tract.

Some of the species that belong to this Phylum include:
Return to Plant Biology What are the Differences between Plant Cells and Animal Cells? Return from Kingdom Animalia to MicroscopeMaster home
References

Agu K C. (2012). Vertebrates.

Joshua Bishop Roby. (2009). Animal Kingdom.

Kevin Pang and Mark Q. Martindale. Ctenophores.

P.S. Verma and S. Chand. (2013). Chordate Zoology.

Richard E. Blackwelder. (1963). Classification of the ANIMAL KINGDOM

Teresa Adell et al. (2015). Platyhelminthes.

Thomas Jankowski and Boris Anokhin. (2019). Phylum Cnidaria.

http://tolweb.org/Annelida/2486#:~:text=Annelida%20is%20a%20group%20commonly,and%20Hirudinea%20(leeches ).

https://biocyclopedia.com/index/general_zoology/pseudocoelomates.php
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/invertebrate-zoology/phylum-aschelminthes/phylum-aschelminthes-characters-and-classification-animal-kingdom/69864
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Kingdom Animalia - Different Phylum, Classification, Characteristics

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The Kingdom Animalia is a large group that consists of eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that are heterotrophic in nature. As such, they obtain their nutrition from external sources. Although they are unable to produce their own food, which is one of the main defining characteristics of plants, animal cells lack a cell wall that is present in plant cells.

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Domain – highest level constitutes three domains of life.

Kingdom – the second most level constitutes five kingdoms.

Phylum – a group of related classes.

Class – a group of related orders.

Order – a group of related families.

Family – a group of related genera.

Genus – a group of related species.

Species – a group of similar organisms

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/taxonomy

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Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online

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Taxonomy
n., tækˈsɑːnəmi
Definition: the science of finding, describing, classifying, and naming organisms

Taxonomy Definition

The term " taxonomy" was developed from two Greek words, " taxis," meaning arrangement, and " nomia," meaning distribution or method. In simple words, the definition of taxonomy is a branch of science that deals primarily with the description, identification, nomenclature, and classification of organisms. It is essential to classify living organisms into different groups and subgroups.

What is Taxonomy? Taxonomy is the branch of biology that studies the naming, arranging, classifying, and describing organisms into groups and levels.

Defining Taxonomy

What do you mean by taxonomy? The scientific definition of taxonomy is that it involves the classification of organisms both alive and extinct. Also, it includes the naming and arranging of organisms in higher groups. So what does taxonomy mean? Taxonomy involves studying living organisms such as animals, plants, microorganisms, and humans to classify them in different categories to study further and identify. For instance, humans and whales are two unrelated organisms from different perspectives; however, both are considered mammals and taxonomically related.

Different definitions of taxonomy

The definitions of taxonomy in biology vary from one source two to another. Different authors have different points of view regarding taxonomy in biology. Here are the compiled definitions of taxonomy.

Taxonomy involves seven different types of processes: description, naming, recognition, comparison, and classification of taxa, genetic variation, identifying specimens, and defining taxa in the ecosystem. (Enghoff & Seberg, 2006).

Taxonomy is the practice of making groups of organisms (individuals) into species and arranging those species into larger groups and assigning names to the groups, to produce a classification. (Judd et al., 2007)

The taxonomy is the field of science, including units of systematics to enclose the identification, description, classification, and nomenclature (Simpson, 2010).

Taxonomy is an analysis of an individual's characteristics to classify them. (Lawrence, 2005).

Taxonomy is the study of the classification of living beings and their formation of species and vice versa (Walker, 1988).

Taxonomy in biology is the arrangement of (living) organisms into classification. (Kirk, et al. 2008).

Based on different definitions, the taxonomy is considered a sub-branch of systematics or a synonym of the latter term. It is also thought that the biological nomenclature is either a part of taxonomy or a unit of systematics. To remove this confusion, consider the given below definition of systematics:

Systematics is the consideration to identify the taxonomy of organisms and their nomenclature, classification based on their natural relatedness, and the analysis of variation and evolution among the taxa.

Taxonomy (biology definition): The science of finding, describing, classifying, and naming organisms, including the studying of the relationships between taxa and the principles underlying such a classification. Etymology: from Greek taxis, meaning "arrangement", "order".

Overview of taxonomy biology

In biology, taxonomy is defined as the classification of biological organisms. Starting from grouping the organisms into taxa (singular: taxon) and then given taxonomic rank. These groups can be collected to form high-ranked supergroups that lead to the taxonomy hierarchy.

Who are taxonomists?

Taxonomists are biologists who analyze the relationship among organisms and aggregate them into groups. For instance, the insect taxonomist understands the relationship between different fly types and vice versa to group them into one category.

History of Taxonomy

The scientific taxonomy (classification of organisms) primarily occurred in the 18th century. However, the only basis that meets in the past to the early works only includes the descriptives of plants for agriculture and medicine purposes. Moreover, the early taxonomy was based on artificial systems or arbitrary criteria, including Linnaeus's system. The later systems were called the natural systems, which include a more scientific taxonomy basis. The nature of these natural systems was based on pre-evolutionary thinking. Charles Darwin's work on "Origin of Species" gave a more solid basis for the classification of organisms. The classification was based on the evolutionary relationships leading to phyletic systems since 1883.

Before the Linnaean era

The pre-Linnaean era includes the work of earlier taxonomists back in the Egyptian period from 1500 BC.

Early Egyptian taxonomists

The process of classifying and naming the surrounding organisms in human history is as long as language development occurs in humankind. An example of earlier taxonomy has been shown on Egypt's walls about medicinal plants by the early Egyptian taxonomists.

Aristotle

During Aristotle's stay at the Island of Lesbos, he was able to classify organisms for the first time. He identified the organisms and then grouped them into two major categories, i.e., plants and animals. He classified the animals based on attributes and parts including, the number of legs, laying eggs, warm-blooded or no blood, and birth. Several groups of animals proposed by Aristotle, such as Anhaima, Enhaima, sharks, and cetaceans, are still used to this day. Anhaima includes animals with no blood. Currently, they are referred to as invertebrates, and Enhaima includes animals with blood. They are also called vertebrates.

His student, Theophrastus, continued the classification process and mentioned 500 plants (also their uses) in his book, Historia Plantarum. Some plant groups, such as Cornus, Crocus, and Narcissus, can be traced back to Theophrastus's findings.

Medieval thinkers

In the middle ages, medieval thinkers took account of organisms' classification on a philosophical basis. As during Aristotle's time, the unavailability of a microscope leads to no classification of the plants and fungi. Afterward, the classification systems used in this era were Aristotelian systems, including the Scala Naturae, a nature ladder used to order organisms in one unit. The concepts that were originated in the middle ages were a Great chain of being. The medieval thinkers include most prominent scholars like Thomas Aquinas, Demetrios, Procopius, and others. These scholars studied the above consideration to extract philosophical abstracts in organisms' classification rather than logical or traditional taxonomy.

Andrea Cesalpino

Andrea Cesalpino, the first-ever taxonomist in history, was an Italian physician. He described up to 1500 species of plants in his book " Magnum Opus De Plantis ". The largest families of plants known as Asteraceae and Brassicaceae are still considered and used today.

John Ray

In the 17th century, John Ray took taxonomy to the next level and covered more important taxonomic aspects. His biggest accomplishment was his described details of 18,000 plant species and more in his book " Methodus Plantarum Nova " and produced more complex classification (the taxa was based on many characteristics).

Joseph Pitton de Tournefort

Joseph Pitton de Tournefort defined and classified 9000 species in 698 genera in his work Institutiones Rei Herbariae, 1700.

Carl Linnaeus

Carl Linnaeus (also known as Carl von Linné or Carolus Linnæus) proposed his taxonomy classification system known as the Linnaean System. His works, such as Systema Naturae, Species Plantarum, and Systema Naturae, were the most famous and revolutionized in the taxonomy field. His works include introducing a binomial naming system that leads to organized and standardized animals and plant species taxonomy.

The system contains proper classification factors, including class, order, , and species. His books allow identifying animals and plants (for instance, the flower can be identified from its smaller parts). Moreover, in the present century, his work was being used in the 18th century. However, modern taxonomists consider the Linnaean System as the starter of taxonomy (biology). Furthermore, the period before Linnaean work (taxonomic names) is considered pre-Linnaean, and some of his proposed taxonomic names are also considered in the later era.
Different Taxonomists works on classification:

Andrea Caesalpino (1519-1603 AD)

Divides plants into 15 groups

John Ray (1627-1705 AD)

Published work on plants classification

Augustus Rivinus (1652-1723 AD)

Added taxa of Order

Tournefort (1656-1708 AD)

Introduced taxa of Class

Linnaeus (1707-1778 AD)

Grouped species based on physical characteristics

Classification Systems

The biologist needed a system to provide all this information to get full information about similarities and differences among different organisms. In earlier classification systems, the organism was divided and classified into two kingdoms that are plants and animals. In previous years the taxonomist was agreed on five-kingdom classification after developing the two-kingdom classification system and three kingdom classification systems. However, in recent years the taxonomist agreed on five-kingdom classification systems. The only difference in the five-kingdom classification system and six kingdom classification system is that the kingdom Protista was further divided into two kingdoms.

Two-kingdom classification system

In the beginning, the organisms were classified only into kingdoms: Animalia and Plantae. Following this system, Kingdom Plantae includes organisms capable of preparing their food from simple inorganic materials. They are also named autotrophs. On the contrary, those organisms that cannot prepare their food from simple inorganic material and depend on other autotrophs to get food were named heterotrophs and placed in Kingdom Animalia.

In this classification system, the taxonomists placed bacteria, fungi, and algae in Kingdom Plantae. Based on more advanced research, the taxonomists contested this classification system and thought it was not workable. Euglena, for instance, has both plant-like (e.g. the presence of chlorophyll for photosynthesis) and animal-like features (e.g. heterotrophic mode of nutrition in the night and no cell wall). So where should this organism be classified? As a result, another classification system was needed to classify such organisms.

Three-kingdom classification system

A taxonomist named Ernst Hackel solve the previous problem in 1866. He made a third kingdom Protista to place organisms like Euglena. He also included bacteria in the third kingdom. However, the fungi have remained in the Plantae kingdom. Many biologists did not accept the position of fungi in the Kingdom Plantae. Thus, the three kingdom classification system was still insufficient to clearly classify organisms. Besides, the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes are not considered in this classification scheme.

Fungi resemble plants in many ways but cannot prepare their food (not considered autotrophs). Instead, they get food by absorption. They do not contain cellulose and have chitin in cell walls, making them characteristically heterotrophs.

Five-kingdom classification system

The term " procariotique" was used to describe bacteria, and " eucaritique" was used to describe plants and animal cells by E. Chatton in 1937. Robert Whittaker introduced the five-kingdom classification system in 1967. The system was based on the following;

The system gave levels to the cellular organization, including prokaryotic, unicellular eukaryotic, and multicellular eukaryotic.

Based on modes of nutrition, that is photosynthesis, absorption, and ingestion.

On these bases, the organisms were classified into five kingdoms, such as Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. Further, changes were made in the five-kingdom classification system by Margulis and Schwartz in 1988. Nevertheless, the most latest and recent changes made in this classification system include the Protista kingdom's division. The detail of each kingdom is given in later sections.

Taxonomy Hierarchy

The process of placing or grouping the organisms in different taxonomic groups is known as the taxonomy hierarchy. These levels formed a structure similar to the ladder or pyramid. The organisms are grouped in ascending to descending classification order and vice versa. The highest level is considered to be the domain and the least one as species.

Taxonomic ranks

The levels, as mentioned earlier in biological classification, are also called as taxonomic ranks. Each rank leads to other taxonomic ranks either in an upward direction or downward. In the next section, we will go through the taxonomic ranks in biological or scientific classification, building the taxonomy hierarchy.

Taxonomy hierarchy overview

Below is the quick taxonomic definition of each rank:

Domain - highest level constitutes three domains of life.

Kingdom - the second most level constitutes five kingdoms.

Phylum - a group of related classes.

Class - a group of related orders.

Order - a group of related families.

Family - a group of related genera.

Genus - a group of related species.

Species - a group of similar organisms.

Domain

Domain as a taxonomic level or rank was added in the taxonomic hierarchy in 1990 after 250 years of Linnaean taxonomy classification development. The early taxonomists did not taxonomically add the Domain yet. Moreover, the taxonomic level includes three life domains, such as , , and .

Eukaryota refers to all the organisms living on earth (but neither a bacterium nor an archaeon). Nevertheless, they are more related to Archaea Domain.

Archaea include single-celled organisms that are evolutionarily close to bacteria and make habitats in mild or extreme places.

Bacteria include all the bacteria (single-celled microorganisms) found in a large number than all animals and plants on the earth.

Note: The capital 'B' for Bacteria is used to define the Domain, and the bacteria with small 'b' is used for all the bacteria on the earth.

Kingdom

Initially, there were two kingdoms: Animalia and Plantae. However, after the development of the microscope and more research, more kingdoms were added. In the past year, the number of kingdoms was five: Monera, Animalia, Plantae, Protista, and Archaea. These Kingdoms were recently raised to seven. Due to the inaccuracy of some Kingdoms such as Protista, which include eukaryotic organisms that do not belong to other classes ( i.e., they are not plants or animals), it led to new kingdoms - by splitting Protista into and The current Kingdoms in taxonomy classification are as follows:

Almost all the animals are included in the kingdom of Animalia. These animals ingest food and digest it with the help of particular organs. They are eukaryotic, multicellular organisms and have no cell wall. These animals move from one place to another. The kingdom Animalia also includes humans (used in informal terms); however, animals are only used for animals different from humans.

Most animal species are bilateral, meaning they have a bilaterally symmetric body, including nematodes, mollusks, arthropods, echinoderms, chordates, and others.

For an animal classification chart example, see Example 2 in the section: Examples of Taxonomy.

This kingdom includes eukaryotic, multicellular autotrophs meaning all plants. The kingdom Plantae also referred to as the Metaphyta kingdom. This kingdom includes multicellular and eukaryotic photosynthesis plants. These plants are capable of making their food by the process called photosynthesis. They reproduce and have sex organs, which are multicellular forming embryos. The plants exist long ago on the earth and are more than 250,000 species. The plant's green color and ability to produce oxygen shape the environment by removing carbon dioxide. Mosses, ferns, and flowering plants are included in the kingdom Plantae.

The organisms which are made of prokaryotic cells are included in the kingdom Monera. They are unicellular, although some types form clusters, colonies, and change of cell. Prokaryotic cells are different from eukaryotic cells radically. Some organisms in the kingdom Monera produce their food through photosynthesis, and most of them are heterotrophs, meaning they cannot produce their food and rely on other plants and animals such as algae. The organisms that perform photosynthesis have chlorophyll in their cytoplasm. The kingdom Monera includes two different kinds of organisms that are cyanobacteria and bacteria.

The organisms included in kingdom fungi have the absorptive nutritional mode. They are eukaryotic, multicellular heterotrophs, for example, mushrooms. Most of the fungi are decomposers. They secrete digestive enzymes of organic material on which they live. They also absorb small organic molecules that are formed as the result of digestion by enzymes. Other microorganisms included in fungi are molds and yeasts. The reason for fungi separate kingdom is the presence of chitin in their cell walls. Fungi are also heterotrophs like animals. They get their food by the absorption (of organic molecules) process and lack photosynthesis. The fungi are decomposers that grow through the mean of mobility. The kingdom contains a wide variety of taxa and ecologies, morphologies, and life cycle stages. The estimated biodiversity of kingdom fungi ranges from 2.2 million to 3.8 million.

Kingdom chromista is derived from the kingdom Protista, created by Thomas Cavalier in 1981 to separate all the protists from plant protozoans. The kingdom chromista includes eukaryotic organisms, both single-celled and multicellular. Initially, the algae were also included in the chromista kingdom, which was then excluded based on protozoans' belonging to a new group. The organisms in the kingdom chromista have similar characteristics in terms of photosynthetic processing. Several examples of these eukaryotic organisms include diatoms, oomycetes, and some algae containing chlorophyll in their plastids.

The kingdom protozoa include single-celled eukaryotic organisms free-living for parasites, meaning they feed on microorganisms, debris, and organic tissues (organic matter). They are also considered one-celled animals because of the features similar to animals like locomotion, no cell wall, and predatory features. However, this consideration is now ended, and the protozoans are neither grouped in animals, plants, or fungi categories. Moreover, the protozoans are given a separate kingdom because they are single-celled eukaryotic organisms with heterotrophic feeding characteristics.
(7) Kingdom Archaea
The unicellular prokaryotes microorganisms considered to be the oldest organisms found on earth are included in kingdom archaea. These microbes do not contain a cell nucleus and other organelles with membrane-bound structures. Initially, the archaea were considered bacteria; however, it was separated from bacteria due to the advancement and further research (kingdom: Archaebacteria ). Archaea have different sizes and shapes. They also contain genes and metabolic pathways that make them similar to eukaryotes. The kingdom archaea contain multiple phyla. The classification of organisms included in the kingdom archaea is crucial because they are not isolated in laboratories for examining purposes. Moreover, the archaea take up the energy in the form of sugars, ammonia, hydrogen gas, and metal ions from the organic materials. Some archaea use sunlight for energy purposes and fix carbon.

Phylum

The taxonomic definition of phylum ( plural: phyla) is more precise than the kingdom and less particular than the class level. The phylum was added to the taxonomic classification in the 19th century. There are 34 Phyla of animals, 13 Phyla of plants, 8 Phyla of fungi, 20 Phyla of Protista (including Chromista and Protozoa), 29 Phyla of bacteria, and five phyla of Archaea. The List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) accepts these lists of phyla. Some of the notable phyla of animals include Chordata (includes organisms with nerve cord), Arthropoda (arthropods), and Porifera (sponges).

Class

A more specific taxonomic rank than phylum is the class. The class was integrated into the taxonomy (biology) by the Linnaean system and was the most widespread taxa used up till now. However, the classes for plants proposed by Linnaean are not used nowadays because plants' classes were made based on their attributes (e.g. petals arrangement) rather than by their similarities. The classes for plants are not used much in botany (the study of plants).

In animals, there are 108 classes and the most common among these are Mammalia (mammals), Aves (birds), and Reptilia (reptiles).

Order

Next to class is the order. It is a more specific taxonomic rank. Some Linnaean orders are still used in the present taxonomies. The rough estimate of the total number of orders ranges from 420-450.
The Mammalian, for instance, has orders between 19- 26, including Primates, Carnivora (animals that are carnivores or omnivores), Cetaceans (water animals like whales, porpoises, and dolphins), and Chiroptera (includes bats).

Family

The taxonomic family is more specific than the order. Several examples of Order Carnivora families are Canidae (dogs, foxes, or wolves), Mephitidae (skunks), and Felidae (cats).

Genus

A more specified taxonomic rank in the taxonomy hierarchy is the genus ( plural: Genera). The genus includes the scientific names of organisms ( species name and genus name). The scientific names are written in the Italic style, and the genus name is always capitalized. For instance, the scientific name of the human is Homo sapiens. Homo is the genus name, and sapiens is the species name.

Species

The approximate number of species on the earth is 8.7 million. However, there are still many species left for taxonomic classification and ranking. The species is the most specified rank in the taxonomy hierarchy. The same species name can be used for different organisms such as an American black bear is called Ursus americanus and the American toad as Bufo americanus. The species name is never capitalized and always written in Italic script; moreover, in scientific articles or research papers, the species name is followed by the genus's first letter; for example, the Homo sapiens is written H. sapiens.

Read: The Homo Species - Biology Online Tutorial

Evolution in taxonomy

Evolution is a progressive change that proceeds through genetic variation, natural selection, and genetic drift. Through evolution, living things evolve to thrive and adapt to the ever-changing environment. Because of this, there is a tendency for a certain group of organisms to evolve so markedly that they diverge into different groups within the group. New species emerge.

The process of the formation of new species is called speciation. There are various ways to achieve this:

In spite of this basic tenet, there are certain people who still question evolution. For instance, the question as to why not all apes evolved into humans if humans truly originated from the apes. Questions like this make some people argue that evolution is wrong and simply a theory. However, modern proponents of evolution claim that humans do not precisely originate from apes but from an ape-like common ancestor that we share with the apes, even with monkeys. And also, humans did not stop evolving. Modern humans are undergoing evolution and some of the factors of it include mutations (genetic variation), environmental factors, and natural selection. For example, some humans have adapted to live a life in high altitudes. Tibetans, for example, are capable of thriving in a low oxygen environment, which people who are used to living in lowlands will experience difficulty in breathing going up to highlands. Scientists found out that Tibetans have alleles that cause them to produce relatively fewer red blood cells, which is an essential feature for living in high altitudes. The fewer number of red blood cells in their blood is an advantage because it prevents the blood from becoming thicker (by thicker, it means having more blood cells making the passage through capillaries rather difficult). The trait wherein there are few red blood cells circulating seems to help in effectively delivering oxygen to tissues. Apart from it, other traits that are unique to Tibetans are having blood vessels that expand to allow better oxygen transport and a higher breathing rate.

Taxonomy chart: sample classification of two organisms

Examples of Taxonomy

To understand how the taxonomy hierarchy works and how different organisms are grouped under one kingdom.

Example 1: Taxonomy of Human

Example 2: Taxonomy hierarchy of Dog
Try to answer the quiz below to check what you have learned so far about taxonomy.
©BiologyOnline.com. Content provided by BiologyOnline Editors.

References

Enghoff, H. (2009) What is taxonomy? An overview with myriapodological examples. Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken, 1864 - 6417

Judd, W.S., Campbell, C.S., Kellogg, E.A., Stevens, P.F., & Donoghue, M.J. (2007). "Taxonomy". Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach (3rd ed.). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates.

Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., Minter, D.W., & Stalpers, J.A. eds. (2008) "Taxonomy". In Dictionary of the Fungi, 10th edition. CABI, Netherlands.

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Taxonomy - Definition, Examples, Classification - Biology Online Dictionary

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Taxonomy n., tækˈsɑːnəmi Definition: the science of finding, describing, classifying, and naming organisms The term " taxonomy" was developed from two Greek words, " taxis," meaning arrangement, and " nomia," meaning distribution or method.