Biology - Animalia Kingdom


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Introduction

  • The organisms, which are eukaryotic, multicellular, and heterotrophic, are categorized as Animalia kingdom.

Animalia Kingdom
  • The organisms of Animalia kingdom have no cell-wall.

  • Most of animals of Animalia kingdom are mobile.

Classification of Animalia Kingdom

  • Based on the extent and type of the body design differentiation, Animalia kingdom classified as −

    • Porifera

    • Coelenterata

    • Platyhelminthes

    • Nematoda

    • Annelida

    • Arthropoda

    • Mollusca

    • Echinodermata

    • Protochordata

    • Vertebrata

      • Pisces

      • Amphibia

      • Reptilia

      • Aves

      • Mammalia

  • Let’s discuss each of them in brief −

Porifera

  • The literal meaning of ‘porifera’ is the organisms with holes.

  • The organisms of porifera are non-motile and attached to some solid support.

Porifera
  • The examples of this group are Sycon, Spongilla, Euplectelia, etc.

Coelenterata

  • Organisms of coelenterata group live in water.

  • The organisms of this group have cavity in their bodies.

Coelenterata
  • Hydra and sea anemone are the common example of coelenterate.

Platyhelminthes

  • The organisms of this group do not have true internal body cavity or coelom; so, they neither have well-developed organs.

  • The bodies of organisms of this group are flattened from top to bottom; therefore, they are also known as flatworms.

Platyhelminthes
  • Planareia, liverfluke, tape worm, etc., are the typical examples of this group.

Nematoda

  • The organisms of nematode have cylindrical body.

  • The organisms have tissue, but as such no well-developed body (i.e. no real organ).

Nematodes
  • The filarial worms (causing elephantiasis disease), roundworm in the intestines, etc., are the common examples of nematodes.

Annelida

  • The organisms of annelida group live almost everywhere including fresh water, marine water as well as on land.

Annelida
  • Earthworms, nereis, and leeches are the familiar examples of annelida.

Arthropoda

  • Arthropoda, probably, is the largest group of animals.

  • The animals of this group don’t have well defined blood vessels rather there is an open circulatory system.

  • The literal meaning of arthropod is jointed legs; so, they have jointed legs.

Arthropoda
  • Prawns, butterflies, houseflies, spiders, scorpions, etc. are the typical examples of arthropod.

Mollusca

  • The organisms of mollusca are invertebrate.

  • Most of the organisms of Mollusca group live in water.

Mollusca
  • Snails and mussels are the typical example of Mollusca.

Echinodermata

  • The organisms of Echinodermata have spiny skinned.

  • Echinodermata are free-living marine organisms.

Echinodermata
  • The examples of echinodermata are starfish, sea urchins, feather star, etc.

Protochordata

  • The organisms of protochordata are normally marine. E.g. Balanoglossus, Herdemania, and Amphioxus

Protochordata
  • The organisms of protochordata show a typical feature of body design, called as notochord; however, it does present there throughout the life.

Vertebrata

  • Vertebrata has been discussed in a separate chapter.

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