Animal classification is the process of categorizing animals into groups based on their shared characteristics. The classification system is hierarchical, with each level becoming more specific than the previous one. The most general level is the kingdom, followed by phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The classification system was developed by Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s and is still used today.
The animal kingdom is divided into six different classifications: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Eubacteria, and Archaebacteria. The animal kingdom is a complex multi-celled organism that does not produce its own food. It contains all living and extinct animals. The characteristics of each animal kingdom are as follows:
– Animalia: This kingdom contains all living and extinct animals. Examples include elephants, whales, and humans.
– Plantae: This kingdom contains complex and multi-cellular autotrophic organisms, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis. Examples include trees, flowers, and grass.
– Fungi: This kingdom contains multi-celled organisms that do not produce their own food, unlike plants. Examples include molds, mushrooms, and yeast.
– Protista: This kingdom contains single-celled organisms with more complexity than either eubacteria or archaebacteria. Examples include algae and amoebas.
– Eubacteria: This kingdom contains single-celled organisms found in everything from yogurt to your intestines. This kingdom contains all bacteria in the world not considered archaebacteria.
– Archaebacteria: This kingdom contains the oldest known living organisms. They are single-celled and found in hostile and extremely hot areas like thermal vents or hot springs.
After the animal kingdom, animal species usually fall into one of seven different phylum or phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Mollusca, and Arthropoda. Each phylum is further divided into classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
– Porifera: This phylum includes sponges, which are marine animals found in every ocean on earth.
– Cnidaria: This phylum includes jellyfish, coral, and sea anemones.
– Platyhelminthes: This phylum includes flatworms, which are soft-bodied, flattened worms.
– Nematoda: This phylum includes roundworms, which are long, slender, and cylindrical.
– Annelida: This phylum includes segmented worms, which are worms with a body composed of many segments.
– Mollusca: This phylum includes snails, clams, and octopuses.
– Arthropoda: This phylum includes insects, spiders, and crustaceans.
Each phylum is further divided into classes, orders, families, genera, and species. For example, the phylum Arthropoda is divided into five subphyla: Trilobitomorpha, Chelicerata, Crustacea, Hexapoda, and Myriapoda. The subphylum Chelicerata is further divided into classes, including Arachnida and Merostomata.
In conclusion, animal classification is a hierarchical system that categorizes animals into groups based on their shared characteristics. The classification system is still used today and is an important system for understanding how all living organisms are related. The animal kingdom is divided into six different classifications, and each phylum is further divided into classes, orders, families,