Summary

Organisms differ in their form, structure and mode of living. Hence, based on their similarities
they should be grouped. The grouping of related organisms helps us in studying their
evolutionary relationships. Classification is the division of organisms on the basis of
characteristics into groups and sub-groups. A characteristic may be a particular form or function.

History of classification
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, classified animals based on whether they live on land, in
water or in the air.
Charles Darwin put forward the idea of evolution in 1859, in his book, The Origin of
Species.
Ernst Haeckel, Robert Whittaker and Carl Woese have tried to classify living organisms into
broad categories, called kingdoms.
Carolus Linnaeus classified all the living organisms into two kingdoms namely, Plantae
and Animalia.
Robert Whittaker, in 1969 proposed Five kingdom classification of living organisms.

Hierarchical classification
The hierarchy can be represented as Kingdom subgrouping into Phylum for animals or Division
for plants, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species. Hence, the basic unit of classification is
species. Species includes all the organisms that are similar to breed and produce fertile offspring.

Nomenclature
The scientific naming of an organism is called as nomenclature. Binomial nomenclature,
introduced by Carolus Linnaeus is the method of naming an organism with the genus name first
and species name later.

Conventions followed while writing scientific names

Name of the genus begins with a capital letter.
Name of the species should begin with a small letter.
 Scientific name should be in Italics when printed.
Genus name and the species name should be underlined separately while handwritten.

Five kingdom classification

The five kingdom classification was proposed by R.H. Whittaker in 1969. The five kingdoms
were formed on the basis of characteristics such as cell structure, mode of nutrition, source of
nutrition and body organisation. It includes Kingdom Monera, Kingdom Protista, Kingdom
Fungi, Kingdom Plantae, and Kingdom Animalia.

Kingdom Monera:
It includes prokaryotic cells lacking organised nucleus and membrane bound cell
organelles. Some of the Monerans are autotrophic and some of them are heterotrophic forms.
Bacteria, cyanobacteria, blue-green algae, mycoplasma are some of the examples of Kingdom
Monera.

Kingdom Protista:
It includes algae, diatoms and protozoans. These are unicellular and the simplest form of
eukaryotes exhibiting both autotrophic and heterotrophic mode of nutrition. Locomotion and
movement are possible by whip-like flagella and hair-like cilia or finger-like pseudopodia.

Kingdom Fungi:
These are multicellular, eukaryotic saprophytes. The cell wall of fungi is made up of chitin.
They feed on dead and decaying matter. They include mushrooms, rhizopus and mucor. Some
fungi are symbiotic forming an association with algal cells. These symbionts are termed to be
lichens.

Kingdom Plantae:
It includes all the plants that are non-motile, multicellular and eukaryotic organisms with their
cell walls made up of cellulose.
These are complex organisms which can perform photosynthesis.
Plants comprise cells with thick cell walls.
Plant cells are rigid nd cannot be comprssed
Plants are immobile, they cannot move from one place to another.
Plants have unlimited growth.

Kingdom Animalia:
It includes all the animals that are motile, multicellular, eukaryotic organisms with their cells
possessing no cell walls. It exhibits species diversity.
Members of this kingdom are complex oganisms with tissue differentiation.
Nutrition is heterotrophic .
Well developed organ systems with division of labour.
animals are ecologically meant to be consumers.
Summary

Animals are the multicellular eukaryotic organisms which belong to the kingdom Animalia.

Criteria for classification

Animals are classified on the basis of different features.
Cellular or tissue level of body organization
Body symmetry
Type of body cavity called as coelom
Presence or absence of segmentation
Presence or absence of a backbone.

Classification of animal kingdom

Classification of the kingdom Animalia includes Invertebrata and Vertebrata.

Invertebrata: It includes group of animals that do not possess a vertebral column. Invertebrata
is classified into different phyla such as Porifera, Coelenterata, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda,
Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca and Echinodermata.
a) Porifera are multicellular organisms exhibiting minimal level of tissue organization. They
lack nervous system. Porifera get their name from two words, pori, meaning holes, and
fera, meaning bearing. Porifera includes Sycon, Spongilla and Euplectella. e.g. Sponges.
Porifera are primitive, multicellular, asyymetrical, marineorganisms exhibiting minimal level
of tissue organisation.
Body is supported by skeleton made up of spicules or sponging fibres.
Water vascular system is responsible for nutrition, respiration and excretion.
They lack nervous system.
Poriferans are hermaphrodites and reproduce both by asexual and sexual means of
reproduction.
Fertilisation is internal. They exhibit indirect development.
Porifera gets its name from two words, pori, meaning holes, and fera, meaning
bearing.
 Porifera includes Sycon, Spongilla and Euplectella.e.g. Sponges.
b) Coelenterates are radially symmetrical organisms which live in marine habitat except for
hydra. Some are solitude and some are colonial. Coelenterates get their name from two Greek
words - koilos, meaning hollow, and enteron, meaning intestine. e.g. Corals, Hydra.
Coelenterates are aquatic, marine, sessile or free-swimming, diploblastic organisms.
Coelenterates are radially symmetrical organisms exhibiting tissue level of organization.
Some are solitude and some are colonial.
Some coelenterates possess skeleton made up of calcium carbonate. Coelenterates possess
tentacles with cnidoblasts. Hence, the other name of the phylum is cnidaria.
Coelenterates possess central gastrovascular cavity. They exhibit extracellular and
intracellular digestion.
Two basic body forms of coelenterates are polyp and medusa.
Coelenterates get their name from two Greek words - koilos, meaning hollow, and
enteron, meaning intestine.
Coelenterates include Corals, Hydra etc.

c) Platyhelminthes are either free living or parasitic. They are triploblastic animals.
Platyhelminthes get their name from two Greek words - platy, meaning flat, and
helminthes, meaning worms. e.g. Planaria.
Blind sac plan includes animals having just a single pore opening to the exterior in their
digestive system. Food is taken in and the undigested food leave the body through a common
pore.
Division of labour is exhibited by the cells.
Planaria is a flat worm. Planaria exhibits asexual mode of reproduction by regeneration
process. It can regenerate in whatever plane it is cut. But the only condition is that the cut
piece of the organism should have atleast 20 % of neoblasts, the adult stem cells. If the
longitudinal cut is given from the head to tip and just it is held ( not cut at the tail region),
planaria develops two heads and can survive. Regeneration is also called as morphallaxis
d) Nematoda are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic parasitic worms. Nematoda get their
name from two Greek words - nema, which means thread, and ode, which means like.
Nematodes can be free living or parasitic.
 Nematoda are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic parasitic worms with a cylindrical body.
Nematodes are unsegmented round worms which are considered to be pseudocoelomate
organisms.
Nematodes possess complete alimentary canal.
Sexes are separate in nematodes and they exhibit sexual dimorphism. Eggs are protected by
thick walls to overcome unfavourable conditions.
e.g. Ascaris, Ancyclostoma, Dracunculus etc.

e) Annelida are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, schizocoelomates with segmented body.

Annelida get their name from the Latin word anellus, which means "little ring". Annelids are
characterised by the presence of a circulatory system. e.g. Earthworm.
Annelidans are segmented, aquatic or terrestrial, free living or parasitic in nature.
Annelidans are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, schizocoelomates with segmented
body.
They exhibit organ-system level of organization.
Locomotion is by longitudinal muscles, circular muscles and setae.
Closed type of circulatory system is seen.
Nephridia help in osmoregulation and excretion.
Nervous system comprises of nerve ganglia connected to nervecords.
Annelids are both dioecious and monecious exhibiting sexual reproduction.
Annelids are characterised by the presence of a circulatory system.

f) Arthropoda are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic animals with true coelom. Arthropoda
means joint legs. This phylum gets its name from the Greek words arthron, meaning joint,
and podos, meaning foot.
Arthropoda are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic animals with true coelom.
These are segemented organisms with organ system level of organisation.
Presence of jointed appendages and chitinousexoskeleton.
Arthropods respire through different structureslike gills, book gills, book lungs and trachea.
They possess open circulatory sytem. Malpighian tubules help in excretion.
Sensory structures are present.
 Sexes are separate. Fertilisation is internal. Mostly oviparous with direct or indirect
development.
g) Molluscs are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic gastropods with reduced coelom. Mollusca
is derived from a Latin word, which means thin-shelled and soft.
Locomotion in molluscs is by means of a muscular foot.
Water molluscs breathe through their gills, while land molluscs have lungs
Circulatory system in molluscs is open.
Snail is a small molluscan Snail is protected by its external skeleton called as shell. Snails are
found in wet places. Entire body except the foot lies inside the shell. When disturbed, snail
even retracts the foot in to the shell. Snail moves with the help of single muscular foot. The
under surface of the muscular foot is lubricated with mucus. The muscular foot glides over
the surface. The rhythmic contractions and relaxations of this muscular foot brings about
pulling action in the body. The secreted mucus also reduces the risk of injury from sharp
objects.

h) Echinodermata are triploblastic animals with true coelomic cavity. Echinodermata are spiny
skinned organisms which get their name from the Greek words echinos, meaning protective
spines, and derma, meaning skin. Skeletons of echinoderms are hard calcium carbonates.
They exhibit radial symmetry.
Echinodermata are triploblastic animals with true coelomic cavity. Echinodermata are spiny
skinned organisms which get their name from the Greek words echinos, meaning
protective spines, and derma, meaning skin. Skeletons of echinoderms are hard
calcium carbonates.
The organisms belonging to the Phylum Echinodermata are called as echinoderms and
exhibit many peculiar characters.
Echinoderms exhibit pentameral radial symmetry in the body organisation.
Echinoderms have special type of water vascular system with tube feet.
Echinoderms are eucoelomates.
Echinoderms are deuterostomes.
Larvae of echinoderms are motile, bilaterally symmetrical in form.
Starfish, brittle star belong to this phylum.
Protochordata: These are the organisms belonging to the phylum Chordata, and are primitive
chordates. Protochordates possess a notochord during their early stage of development. The
notochord is a long rod-like support that runs all along the back of the animal separating the
nervous tissue from the gut. e.g.Balanoglossus, Herdmania.

Vertebrata: These are the most advanced group of animals with true vertebral column and
strong endoskeleton. Vertebrates are grouped into different classes based on bilateral symmetry,
notochord, dorsal nerve cord, paired gill pouches, triploblastic, and coelomate. These classes are
Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia.
a) Pisces includes all fish. These are aquatic cold blooded organisms with a spindle-shaped body
covered by scales.
Fish are the aquatic vertebrates which respire through structures called as gills. This is called
as branchial respiration.
Gills are present on either side of the head and are supplied by rich blood vessels. Fish obtain
oxygen dissolved in water. During respiration, water enters the body through mouth, passes
through gills and comes out of the operculum.
Exchange of gases takes place in the gills of fish supplied by numerous blood vessels. They
accept oxygen into the body and expel out carbon dioxide.
Fish is a lower vertebrate with a two chambered heart exhibiting single mode of circulation.
Impure blood is pumped to gills for oxygenation. This oxygenated blood from gills is
supplied directly to the body tissues without sending to the heart. Blood passes through the
heart only once hence called as single circulation.
Skeleton may be cartilaginous or bony in nature.
Fish exhibits locomotion by the process of swimming. Muscles and bones bring about
locomotion in fish. Fish swim with the help of their fins of which tail fin acts as a rudder.
The tail flaps from side to side to make them swim in the right direction. The undulating
movements of the tail also helps the fish move by bending their bodies from one side to
another in quick succession. This produces a thrust that helps it move forward.
Fish reproduce by laying eggs.
b) Amphibians are cold-blooded animals. Amphibians can live both on land and in water. They
are the first vertebrates to have four limbs, each with five digits and are called tetrapods.
Amphibians are the only organisms which exhibit cutaneous, branchial and pulmonary
respiration in during different stages of their life cycle. Adult frogs can breathe through their
skin. Skin is moist and slimy helping the animal to respire through skin under water as well
as on land. This is termed to be cutaneous respiration. Adult frogs while on land respire
through lungs. Lungs are the respiratory organs which help in exchange of gases. This is
termed to be pulmonary respiration.
Amphibians have a three chambered heart which includes two atria and one ventricle. Here
both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood gets mixed up with each other. Double circulation
is seen in the organisms possessing this type of heart. Lungs are involved in purifying the
blood.
Amphibians exhibit camouflage. The phenomenon of colour changing in frogs was brought
about by different factors.
Amphibians mostly jump and walk with their limbs when on land and can also swim in
water.
Tails are almost absent in adult amphibians.
Amphibians reproduce by laying eggs and exhibit external fertilisation.
Tadpoles, the larval stages of frog live in water. They respire through their gills as they do
not possess well developed lungs. This is termed to be branchial respiration .Tadpoles can
thrive only in water. Tadpoles possess long tails.

c) Reptilia are cold-blooded animals. They have four limbs with five fingers or toes each, and
hence, are called pentadactyle tetrapods.
Respiration is through lungs. Lungs are involved in purifying the blood.
Hearts are three-chambered except for crocodiles. It is a three chambered heart which
includes two atria and one ventricle. Here both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood gets
mixed up with each other. Double circulation is seen in the organisms possessing this type of
heart.
They have cloaca, a single opening to pass out, urine, faeces, sperms or eggs.
Reptiles also reproduce by laying eggs.
 Some reptiles also have the capability of reproducing by parthenogenesis.

d) Aves are warm-blooded animals. Birds bear three clawless digits.

Their hind limbs are strong and are developed for walking. Fore limbs are modified into
wings which help them in flight.
Bones are hollow. Body is covered by feathers.
Respiration is through lungs.
They have four-chambered heart.
Birds can generate lot of heat through their metabolic reactions. Only little amount of food
what they eat is converted into body mass. Rest of it is utilised inorder to generate heat to
maintain body temperature constant.
Birds are oviparous and lay eggs which hatch into chicks.

e) Mammals are warm-blooded animals. Their skin is covered by hair, sweat glands and oil
glands that regulate body temperature, thereby allowing them to live in diverse habitats.

Coelom in mammals is divided into peritoneal, pleural and pericardial cavities.

Breathing is through lungs.
Four-chambered heart is present. Mammalian heart is made up of four chambers which
include two atria and two ventricles. The organisms with this type of heart exhibit double
circulation. The deoxygenated blood is completely separated from the oxygenated blood
completely. The atria and ventricles are separated by many types of valves which prevent the
mixing up of pure blood from that of impure blood.
Mammals give birth to young ones through different modes. Mammals like platypus lay
eggs. Mammals have milk-producing glands called as mammary glands to nourish their
young ones.