CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS

TWO MAIN GROUPS:

VERTEBRATES- animals with backbones
INVERTEBRATES- animals without backbones
VERTEBRATES
The vertebrates belong to the one of the phyla of the animal kingdom called
phylum chordata. Phylum chordata consists of animals with dorsal spinal
cord running along the entire length of the body. This phylum is further divided
into five classes, namely; fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The
Fish, amphibians and reptiles are cold-blood animals or ectothermic vertebrates.
Ectotherms need heat to run their body processes and functions.
1. FISHES
Fishes are water animals. Almost all kinds of fish are covered with scales.
Scales are thin but tough sheets arranged all over their body. Fishes have
gills. Gills are thin slits near the head of a fish. Gills let fishes breath in
water. Two kinds of fish the bony and cartilaginous fishes.
Bony fishes are the largest group of fish. Members of this group have bony
skeletons, paired fins, and protective over lapping scales. They are both in
fresh and salt-water habitats. Most bony fishes have a gas filled sac called
the swim bladder or air bladder in the upper part of their cavity. This
bladder acts as a float that regulates buoyancy.
Cartilagenous fishes- have flexible skeletons made up of cartilage tissue.
They include sharks, rays and skates and they are found in salt water.
2. AMPHIBIANS
Amphibians are cold-blooded animals. Spend part in land and water. They
breathe through their gills and as they grow they breathe through their
lungs and gills disappear. They have smooth, moist and scale less skin.
Two major groups of amphibians:
*Tailed amphibians- include salamanders and newts. They have long
bodies and tails and two pairs of short legs.
*Tailless amphibians- include frogs and toads. As adults they have short
squat bodies and large tails. Some toads live in dessert, but like most they
need water for reproduction. During winter toads hibernate by burrowing
underground. During winter, toads hibernate. Life processes slows down
and animals become inactive. Toads do the same thing during very warm
summer day and the process is called estivation.

3. REPTILES
The reptiles include crocodiles, alligators, turtles, tortoises, lizards, and
snakes. Reptiles do not have gills at any stage of their life cycle and do not
undergo metamorphosis. Alligators and crocodile feed on animals that
they capture with their massive toothed jaws.
Turtles are found on land and in both fresh and salt water. Land-dwelling
turtles are sometimes called tortoises. The upper shell is called the
carapace. lizards and snakes belong to the same order, but there are
many differences between them.
4. BIRDS
Birds are warm-blooded animals. Members of this class are found in almost
all types of environments. The single characteristic that distinguishes birds
from all other animals is the presence of feathers.
5. MAMMALS
The mammals include many familiar animals-cats, dogs, bats, monkeys,
horses, cows, deer, whales and also humans. Members of this group are
found all over the earth in both cold and warm climates. Most land
dwelling , but a few, such as the whale, porpoise, and seals, are found in
the oceans.
Two characteristics distinguish mammals from all other vertebrates:
(1) mammals nourish their young with milk produced by their mammary
glands.
(2) The body covering is hair/fur.
3 DIFFERENT KINDS OF MAMMALS:
MONOTREMES- are egg laying mammals. Primitive and reptile like.
MARSUPIALS- are the pouched mammals. They are born tiny and
immature stage that they develop in the pouch of their mothers.
PLACENTALS- the largest and most successful group of mammals.
The developing young are retained within the uterus of the female
until embryonic development is complete.
INVERTEBRATES
1. PHYLUM PORIFERA OR SPONGES

-are the simplest multicellular animals. Porifera means porebearing. All sponges are aquatic some in salt water others in fresh
water. Sponges have many types of skeleton. The mineral skeletons
are made up of tiny needle like structures called SPICULES. The
spicules protect the sponges from animals that try to eat them.
2. PHYLUM CNIDARIA
-includes hydras, jellyfish, corals and sea anemones.
-they have the presence of stinging cells called CNIDOCYTES
-2 general body forms:
*POLYP- body form is cylindrical with a mouth and tentacles at the
upper open end. (ex. Corals and hydras)
*MEDUSA- is shaped like an upside down bowl, with the mouth and
tentacles facing downward. (ex. Jellyfish)
3. PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES OR FLAT WORMS
-flatworms are the simplest invertebrate group with definite head
and tail regions. These animals have flattened bodies.
-PLANARIA are found in freshwater and ponds and they cling to rocks
or leaves.
-FLUKES- are parasitic flatworms that infest in the blood and the liver
of its host.
-TAPEWORM- is a long ribbon like flatworm that can also infect
humans.
4. PHYLUM NEMATODA OR ROUNDWORMS
-have elongated cylindrical bodies that are tapered at both ends and
covered by tough cuticle.
Ex. Hookworms infect people who walk on barefoot in contaminated
soil.
5. PHYLUM ANNELIDA OR THE SEGMENTED WORMS
-are the most complex group among the worms. Their bodies are
divided into segments with a ringed appearance. Ex. Are
earthworms and leeches.
6. PHYLUM MOLLUSCA
-are the second largest animal phylum next to anthropods. Ex. Are
oysters, clams, snails, squids and octopus.
7. PHYLUM ECHINODERMATA
-or the spiny skinned animals. Including the starfish, sea urchin and
sea cucumbers. They are all marine animals and live mainly on the
ocean floor.

-all echinoderms have internal skeleton that serves both as support

and protection.
8. PHYLUM ATHROPDS
-makes up the largest group in the animal kingdom. This phylum is
divided in five groups.
CRUSTACEAN-lobster, crayfish, crabs and shrimp. They have two
pairs of antennae located on the head and fice more pairs of legs for
swimming and walking.
INSECTS-are the ix-legged anthropods. They 3 separate body
regions. HEAD-THORAX-ABDOMEN.
ARACHNIDS- have four pairs of legs for walking.
CENTIPEDES-have flattened bodies divide into two segments, head
and trunk.
MILLIPEDES-have cylindrical bodies consisting of about 20 to more
than a hundred segments.
DESCRIBING FORMS OF ADAPTATION OF ANIMALS.
HABITAT- place where animals live. This is where animals can breed, breathe in
oxygen, find water, food and shelter. Animals live in different habitats because of
environmental conditions.
ADAPTATION- is the ability of organisms to cope with the environmental
conditions of the place where they live.
NATURAL HABITATS OF ANIMALS.
1. FORESTS: wild and tame animals live. They survive because its their
natural habitat.
*ENDANGERED- means that only a few of their kind are alive
*EXTINCT- means that the species no longer exist.
2. DESERT: the temperature here is very hot and dry. Animals that live
here do not sweat and they have long bodies tails and ears thats
why heat is easily released.
Camel store water in their humps.
3. WATER: sea water and salt water. The aquatic habitat is considerd
the largest biome on earth.
ESTUARIES- fresh water and salt water meets.
4. MOUNTAINS: only a few animals live in higher places because of the
cold weather. The food is scarce and the air is thin.

ANIMAL BEHAVIORS:
Keen senses for hunting food. Sharp eyes to see preys. Owls have round eyes
so they can see in the dark. Bats have keen sense in hearing.
MIMICRY: some animals appear like the objects they are resting on.
CLASSIFYING PLANT GROUPS:
*VASCULAR TISSUES: structures that carry water and are made up of special
tissues.
2 MAJOR GROUPS OF PLANTS:
VASCULAR PLANTS HAVE VASCULAR TISSUES. The body of this plant is called
THALLUS. They have true roots, stems and leaves.
NONVASCULAR PLANTS- LACK VASCULAR TISSUES IN THEIR BODIES. Their
structures look like roots stem or leaves and they are not considered true plant
parts due to absence of vascular tissues. The body of this plant is
THALLOPHYTES.
VASCULAR PLANTS
XYLEM TISSUES: transport water with dissolved nutrients from the roots to the
leaves.
PHLOEM TISSUES: transport dissolved food from the leaves to all parts of the
plant.
KINDS OF VASCULAR PLANTS:
1. SPORE-BEARING PLANT: the reproductive structure of this plant is
called SPORES located in specialized structures called
SPORANGIA.
Ex. FERNS- w/c grows in warm and moist spaces.
2. SEED-BEARING PLANT
Conifers- because they produce cones.
GYMNOSPERMS- plants that produce naked seeds. And not
enclosed in an ovary. Their leaves are needle like.
ANGIOSPERMS- are flowering plants. They produce seeds that
are enclosed in ovaries. The ovary is part of the flower.
-they play an important role in our lives. Beneficial to
mankind. They are sources of food. Their roots prevent erosion.
*MONOCOTYLEDONS-

*DICOTYLEDONS
OTHER WAYS OF GROUPING PLANTS:
ANNUALS-plants that grow and produce fruits, flowers and seeds in one season
and then die.
Ex. Tomatoes, beans and peas.
BIENNIALS: this plant takes 2 years to complete their cycles. They develop in
years time. For the 2nd year they produce flowers and plants. Ex. Carrots,
turnips.
PERRENIALS: this plant live for more than two years, they continuosly grow
flowers and plants.
Needs of plant:
WATER- AIR-SUNLIGHT. Dont destroy their habitats.