ANIMAL KINGDOM

BASIS OF CLASSIFICATION

LEVELS OF ORGANISATION

Cellular level of organisation

Tissue level of organisation

Organ level of organisation

Organ system level of organisation

1.Cellular level of organisation

The cells are arranged as loose cell aggregates. Eg- sponges

2.Tissue level of organisation

Here the cells performing the same function, are grouped into tissues.

Eg:-coelenterates

3.Organ level of organisation

Here tissues are grouped together to form organs, for doing a particular function.

Eg:-Platyhelminthes and other higher phyla (Round worms)

4.Organ system level of organisation

Different organs have associated to form organ systems, for doing a specific
function.

Eg-Arthropods, Molluscs, Echinoderms and Chordates, Annelids,

Types of circulatory system

may be of two types: 1. Open type 2. Closed type

Open type in which the blood is pumped through open spaces

Closed type in which the blood is circulated through closed vessels

SYMMETRY

The arrangement of body parts around the central axis of the body .

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 Asymmetry

Radial symmetry

Bilateral symmetry

1.Asymmetry

Body cannot be into two similar equivalent halves in any direction. Eg:-Sponges

2.Radial symmetry

Any plane passing through the central axis of the body divides the organism into two
identical halves, it is called radial symmetry.

Eg:-Coelenterates, Ctenophores Echinoderms

3.Bilateral symmetry

The body can be divided into identical left and right halves in only one plane. Eg:-
Annelids, ,Arthropods, Vertebrates

DIPLOBLASTIC AND TRIPLOBLASTIC ORGANISATION

The fundamental cell layers formed in an early embryo are called germ layers, from
which all the tissues and organs are developed.

Two types - diploblastic and tripoblastic

1.DIPLOBLASTIC

The cells are arranged in two embryonic layers, an external ectoderm and an
internal endoderm,

An undifferentiated layer, mesoglea, is present in between the ectoderm and the

endoderm. E.g., Coelenterates.

2.TRIPLOBLASTIC

The cells are arranged in three embryonic layers, an external ectoderm middle
mesoderm and an internal endoderm,

E.g.Platyhelminthes to chordates.

COELOM

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 The cavity between the body wall and alimentary canal is called coelom or body
cavity. All internal organs are suspended in the coelom.

Three types- 1.Coelomate 2. Pseudocoelomate 3.Acoelomate

1.COELOM

The body cavity, which is lined by mesoderm is called coelom. Animals possessing
coelom are called coelomates.

E.g., annelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms,

2.PSEUDOCOELOM

The body cavity is not lined by mesoderm. Here the mesoderm is present as scattered
pouches in between the ectoderm and endoderm. E.g., Aschelminthes

3.ACOELOMATES

The animals in which the body cavity is absent are called acoelomates.

E.g., Platyhelminthes

NOTOCHORD- Notochord is a rod-like structure formed from mesoderm during

embryonic development in some animals.

1.CHORDATES -Animals with notochord are called chordates.

2.NON-CHORDATES -Animals without notochord are called non-chordates.

E.g., porifera to echinoderms.

1.Phylum Porifera

2.Phylum Cnidaria

3.Phylum Ctenophora

4.Phylum Platyhelminthes

5.Phylum Aschelminthes

6.Phylum Annelida

7.Phylum Arthropoda

8.Phylum Mollusca

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 9.Phylum Echinodermata

10.Phylum Hemichordata

11.Phylum Chordata

Phylum Porifera
1.Members of this phylum are commonly known as sponges

2. Most primitive animals

3.Vase shaped body

4.Mostly marine.

5.Cellular grade of organization

6.Asymmetrical animals.

7.Water Transport System in Sponges: Body with numerous pores = Ostia

A central cavity = Spongocoel. Water enters through ostium,and water exits through
osculum. This pathway of water transport is helpful in food gathering, respiratory
exchange and removal of waste

8. A specialized flagellate cells called choanocytes, or collar cells act as a pump to

bring water into the sponge

9.Spicules: The body is supported by a skeleton of spicules, made of calcium

carbonate (CaCO3) or silicon dioxide (SiO2).

10.Digestion is intracellular.

11.Reproduction: Sponges are hermaphrodite (monoecious) animals. Sexes are not

separate, i.e., eggs and sperms are produced by the same individual.
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12.Asexual reproduction by fragmentation and sexual reproduction by gametes.

13.Fertilisation is internal and development is indirect (a larval stage in life cycle)

Eg:-Spongilla, Sycon,

Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria)

1.Aquatic, mostly marine,sessile or free swimming

2.Radially symmetrical

3. Diploblastic ,Tissue level of organisation

4.. Cnidoblasts or cnidocytes present on the tentacles and the body (They contain the
stinging capsules or nematocytes). Cnidoblasts are used for anchorage, defense and
for the capture of prey.(Hence the name phylum cnidaria)

5 They have a central gastro-vascular cavity with a single opening, hypostome.

6. Exists in two basic body forms - polyp and medusa. . Some exist as either medusae
or polyps, while others exists in both(eg. OBELIA Those cnidarians which exist in both
forms exhibit alternation of generation (Metagenesis)

Polyp is sessile medusa is free-swimming.,

Cylindrical shaped Umbrella shaped

REproduce asexually Reproduce sexually

Mouth upwards Mouth downwards

7.Some of the cnidarians, with a skeleton composed of calcium carbonate. Eg: Corals

Examples: Physalia (Portuguese man-of-war), Adamsia (Sea anemone)

Pennatula (Sea-pen), Gorgonia (Sea-fan), Meandrina (Brain coral)

Phylum Ctenophora

1. Ctenophores, commonly known as sea walnuts or comb jellies

2. Marine, radially symmetrical, diploblastic organisms with tissue level of organisation.

3. The body with eight external rows of ciliated comb plates, which help in locomotion.

4. Digestion is both extracellular and intracellular.

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5. Exhibits Bioluminescence (the property of a living organism to emit light)

6. Sexes are not separate

7. Sexual reproduction. External fertilisation, indirect development.

Examples: Pleurobrachia , Ctenoplana.

Phylum Platyhelminthes

1. They have flattened leaf like body, hence are called flatworms.

2. Mostly endoparasites

3. Flatworms are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and acoelomate animals with

organ level of organisation.

4.Hooks and suckers are present in the parasitic forms

5. Specialised cells called flame cells help in osmoregulation and excretion.

6. Sexes are not separate.

7. Fertilisation internal and development is indirect.

8. Possess high regeneration capacity. Eg:- Planaria

Examples: 1. Taenia (Tapeworm), 2. Fasciola (Liver fluke).

Phylum Aschelminthes
1. The body is circular in cross-section, hence, the name roundworms.

2. Free living, aquatic and terrestrial or parasitic.

3. Organ-system level of body organisation.

4. Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and pseudocoelomate animals.

5. Alimentary canal is complete with a well developed muscular pharynx.

6. Protonephridia excretory organ

7. Sexes are separate (dioecious) Females are longer than males.

9. Fertilisation internal and development direct (the young ones resemble the adult) or
indirect.

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Examples:

Ascaris (Round Worm),

Wuchereria (Filaria worm),

Ancylostoma (Hookworm).

Phylum Annelida
1.Aquatic (marine and fresh water) or terrestrial; free-living, or parasitic.

2 Organ-system level of organisation ,bilateral symmetry, Triploblastic, and coelomate

animals.

3. A closed circulatory system is present

4. Metamerically segmented body- ( surface is distinctly marked out into segments or

metameres (Latin- annulus = little ring) and, hence, the phylum name Annelida.

5. Parapodia For locomotion & respiration(Eg. Neries). In earthworm Setae help in

locomotion

6. Longitudinal and circular muscles which help in locomotion.

7. Nephridia for osmoregulation and excretion.

8. Nereis, an aquatic form, is dioecious, but earthworms & leeches are monoecious.

9. Reproduction is sexual.

Examples:

Nereis, Pheretima (Earthworm) Hirudinaria (Blood sucking leech

Phylum Arthropoda
1. Largest phylum. Over two thirds of all species on the earth are Arthropods

2. Organ-system level of organisation, bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate

and Segmented animals.

3. Body covered by chitinous exoskeleton.

4. The body consists of head, thorax and abdomen.

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5. Jointed appendages (arthros-joint, poda-appendages).

6. Respiratory organs 1.gills,-(Prawn)

2. book gills,-(Limulus)

3.book lungs(spider)

4. tracheal systems (cockroach)

7. Circulatory system open type.

10.Sensory organs - antennae, eyes (compound and simple), statocysts or balance

organs are present

11. Excretory organ -malpighian tubules.

12. Dioecious. Fertilisation internal.

13. They are mostly oviparous. Development may be direct or indirect.

Examples:

Economically important Apis (Honey bee), Bombyx (Silkworm), Laccifer (Lac insect)

Vectors Anopheles, Culex Aedes (Mosquitoes)

Gregarious pest Locusta (Locust) Living fossil Limulus (King crab).

Phylum Mollusca
1. The second largest animal phylum.

2. Terrestrial or aquatic, marine or fresh water

3.Organ-system level of organisation. bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and

coelomate animals.

4. Soft body covered by a calcareous shell

5.Body unsegmented with a distinct head, muscular foot and visceral hump.

6.The visceral hump is covered by a membrane called mantle which secrete the shell

7. Gills for respiration.

8. Nephridia -excretory organ

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9. The mouth contains a rasping organ called radula. It helps in feeding.

10. The anterior head region has sensory tentacles.

11.Dioecious, Oviparous and Indirect development

Examples: Pila (Apple snail), Pinctada (Pearl oyster), Sepia (Cuttlefish),

Loligo (Squid), Octopus (Devil fish), Aplysia (Seahare),

Dentalium (Tusk shell) Chaetopleura (Chiton).

Phylum Echinodermata
1. Marine

2.The skin is spiny hence the name echinodermata.

3. Organ system level of organization.

4. Radially symmetrical but larvae are bilaterally symmetrical,

5. Triploblastic,Coelomates

6. Digestive system complete.Mouth on the ventral side and anus on the dorsal side.

5. The presence of water vascular system for locomotion, capture & transport of food
and respiration.

6. An excretory system is absent.

7. Sexes are separate. Reproduction is sexual.

8. Fertilisation is usually external.

9. Development is indirect with free-swimming larva.

Examples: Asterias (Star fish), Echinus (Sea urchin), Antedon (Sea lily),
Cucumaria (Sea cucumber) Ophiura (Brittle star).

Phylum Hemichordata
1. Worm-like marine animals.

2. Organ-system level of organisation, bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and

coelomate animals.

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3. Body is cylindrical and consists of proboscis, a collar and a long trunk.

4. Circulatory system is of open type.

5. Respiration takes place through gills.

6. Excretory organ is proboscis gland.

7. Sexes are separate.

8. Fertilisation is external, Development is indirect.

Examples: Balanoglossus Saccoglossus.

Phylum Chordata
Phylum Chordata are fundamentally characterised by the

1. Presence of a notochord,

2. A dorsal hollow nerve cord

3. Paired pharyngeal gill slits.

4. Bilaterally symmetrical,Triploblastic,

5. Coelomate with organ-system level of organisation.

6. A post anal tail and a closed circulatory system.

Chordates Nonchordates

Notochord present Notochord absent

Central nervous system dorsal, hollow, & single Central nervous system ventral, solid & double

Pharynx perforated by gill slits Gill slits absent

Heart is ventral Heart is dorsal (If present)

A post anal tail is present Post anal tail is absent

Phylum Chordata is divided into three subphyla:

1.Urochordata or Tunicata,
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In Urochordata, notochord is present only in larval tail

Examples: Ascidia, Salpa, Doliolum;

2. Cephalochordata :

in Cephalochordata, it extends from head to tail region and is persistent throughout

their life.

Eg. Branchiostoma (Amphioxus or Lancelet).

3. Vertebrata.

Vertebrata possess notochord during the embryonic period.

1. The notochord is replaced by a cartilaginous or bony vertebral column in the adult.

Thus all vertebrates are chordates but all chordates are not vertebrates.

2.Vertebrates have a ventral muscular heart with two, three or four chambers,

3. Kidneys for excretion and osmoregulation and

4. Paired appendages which may be fins or limbs.

Subphyla Urochordata and Cephalochordata are often referred to as protochordates

and are exclusively marine.

Subphylum Notochord Examples

Urochordata Notochord present only in larval tail Ascidia, Salpa

Cephlochordata Notochord present through out life and extends Branchiostoma

from head to tail

Vertebrata Notochord present only in embryonic stage, in Birds,

adult it is replaced by vertebral column. mammals.
Class Cyclostomata

1. Ectoparasites on some fishes.

2. Elongated body

3. 6-15 pairs of gill slits.

4. Jaws absent, Sucking and circular mouth.

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5.Body without scales and paired fins.

6.Cartilaginous endoskeleton

7.Circulation closed type.

8.They migrate for spawning from sea to fresh water. After spawning, within a few
days, they die. Their larvae, after metamorphosis, return to the ocean.

Examples:

Petromyzon (Lamprey),

Myxine (Hagfish).

SUPER CLASS PISCES(FISHES)

Class Chondrichthyes (CARTILAGINOUS FISHES)

1. Marine

2.Streamlined body

3. endoskeleton

4. Mouth located ventrally

5. Gill slits are separate and without operculum (gill cover).

6. Placoid scales,Teeth are modified placoid scales.

7. Jaws are very powerful

8. Predacious

9. Due to the absence of air bladder they have to swim constantly to avoid sinking

10. Heart is two-chambered (one auricle and one ventricle).

11. Some of them have electric organs (e.g., Torpedo) and some possess poison sting
(e.g., Trygon).

12. They are cold-blooded (poikilothermous) animals, i.e., they lack the capacity to
regulate their body temperature. Sexes are separate.

13. Sexes are separate,In male pelvic fins bears claspers (copulatory organ).

14. Internal fertilization, Most of them are viviparous.

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Examples:

Scoliodon (Dog fish), Pristis (Saw fish), Carcharodon (Great white shark),
Trygon (Sting ray).

Class Osteichthyes (BONY FISHES)

1.Marine and fresh water

2.Bony endoskeleton

3.Streamlined body

4. Four pairs of gills, covered by operculum on each side.

5. Cycloid, Ctenoid OR Ganoid scales.

6.Air bladder is present which regulates buoyancy.

7.Heart is two-chambered.

8.Cold-blooded animals.

9. . Sexes are separate, Fertilisation is usually external.

10.Copulatory organ is absent in male

11.Mostly oviparous and development is direct.

Examples:

Marine Exocoetus (Flying fish), Hippocampus (Sea horse);

Freshwater Labeo (Rohu), Catla (Katla), Clarias (Magur);

Aquarium Betta (Fighting fish), Pterophyllum (Angel fish).

Chondrichthyes Osteichthyes
Cartelagenous endoskeleton Bony enoskeleton
Mouth ventral Mouth terminal
Operculam absent Operculam present
Skin with placoid scale Ctenoid or cycloid scales
Air bladder absent Air bladder present
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External Fertilization

Oviparous
Fertilisation internal

Viviparous

Class Amphibia (Amphi = duel, Bios = life)

1. Amphibians can live in aquatic as well as terrestrial habitats.

2. Two pairs of limbs.

3. Body is divisible into head and trunk. Tail may be present in some

4. Skin is moist (without scales).

6. The eyes have eyelids.

7. A tympanum represents the ear.

8. Alimentary canal, urinary and reproductive tracts open into a common chamber
called cloaca which opens to the exterior.

9. Respiration is by gills, lungs and through skin.

10.The heart is threechambered (two auricles and one ventricle).

11.These are cold-blooded animals. Sexes are separate.

12.Fertilisation is external.

13.Oviparous and development is direct or indirect.

Examples:

Bufo (Toad), Rana (Frog), Hyla (Tree frog), Salamandra (Salamander),

Ichthyophis (Limbless amphibia).

Class Reptilia

1 The class name refers to their creeping or crawling mode of locomotion

2. Mostly terrestrial

3 The skin is covered by scales or plates or spines.

4 Body is divisible in to head, neck, trunk and tail.

5. Tympanum represents ear.

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4. Limbs, when present, are two pairs.

5. Heart is usually three-chambered, but four-chambered in crocodiles.

6. Poikilotherms

7. Snakes and lizards shed their scales as skin cast

8. Sexes are separate

9.Fertilization is internal

10.They are oviparous & development is direct

Examples:

Chelone (Turtle), Testudo (Tortoise), Chameleon (Tree lizard),

Calotes (Garden lizard), Crocodilus (Crocodile), Alligator (Alligator).

Hemidactylus (Wall lizard),

Poisonous snakes Naja (Cobra), Bangarus (Krait), Vipera (Viper).

Class Aves
1. Presence of feathers

2. Most of them can fly except flightless birds (E.g. Ostrich)

3. They possess beak

4. Forelimbs modified into wings.

5. The hind limb with scales &modified for walking, swimming or clasping the tree
branches.

6.Skin is dry without glands except the oil gland at the base of the tail.

7. Endoskeleton is bony, Bone is hollow with air cavities (Pneumatic bones).

8. The digestive tract with additional chambers the crop & gizzard.

9. Heart is completely four chambered.

10. Warm blooded (homoiothermous) i.e. they are able to maintain a constant body
temperature

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11. Respiration by lungs. Lungs are provided with air sacs.

12. Sexes are separate. Fertilisation is internal.

14. They are oviparous and development is direct.

Examples: Corvus (Crow), Columba (Pigeon), Psittacula (Parrot),

Struthio (Ostrich), Pavo (Peacock), Aptenodytes (Penguin),

Neophron (Vulture).

Class Mammalia
1. Presence of milk producing glands (mammary glands)

2.Two pairs of limbs for walking, climbing, burrowing, swimming or flying.

3. Skin provided with hairs

4. External ears or pinnae are present.

5 Different types of teeth are present in the jaw.

6. Heart is four-chambered.

6. Homoiothermous.

7. Respiration by lungs.

8. Sexes are separate and fertilisation is internal.

9. Viviparous with few exceptions and development is direct.

Examples:

Oviparous-Ornithorhynchus (Platypus);

Viviparous - Macropus (Kangaroo), Pteropus (Flying fox), Camelus (Camel),

Macaca(Monkey), Rattus (Rat), Canis (Dog), Felis (Cat), Elephas (Elephant),
Equus (Horse), Delphinus (Common dolphin), Balaenoptera (Blue whale),
Panthera tigris (Tiger), Panthera leo (Lion).

Model Questions
1. a) Annelida : Parapodia : : ..: Comb plates
b) .: Water vascular system:: Coelenterata : cnidoblast (1 mark)
2. a) All vertebrates are chordates but all chordata are not vertebrates. Justify the
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 statement. (2 marks)

3.During a field trip Raju has collected some organisms with the following characters.
Help him to identify the phyla of those organisms.
(a) Metamerically segmented body.
(b) Body covered with calcareous shell.
Dorsaventrally flattened leaf like body.
(d) Body divided into head, thorax and abdomen. (2 marks)

4. Phylum coelonterata also Known as phylum cnidaria

a. What is the reason?
b. Give any three salient feauture of this phylum? (2)

5. Fill up the gap: -

a) Coelenterates are .......................................(Radially symmetrical, Bilaterally symmetrical)
b) In fish, swim bladder is an organ of (Buoyancy, Osmoregulation)
c) Flame cells are found in (Flat worms, Round worms)
d) In Hemichordata, proboscis gland is (Reproductive organ, Excretory organ) (4 x = 2)

6.Identify the following diagram and list out the peculiar characters that helps
in Identifying it. (2)

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