4. ANIMAL KINGDOM
Animals are multicellular and heterotrophic organisms without cell wall and chlorophyll.
Kingdom Animalia includes 11 major phyla:
- Porifera
- Cnidaria
- Ctenophora
- Platyhelminthes
- Aschelminthes
- Annelida
- Arthropoda
- Mollusca
- Echinodermata
- Hemichordata
- Chordata
BASIS OF CLASSIFICATION
1. Levels of organization
- Cellular level of organization: Here, the cells are arranged as loose cell aggregates. E.g. Porifera.
- Tissue level of organization: Here, the cells are arranged into tissues. E.g. Cnidarians and Ctenophores.
- Organ level of organization: Here, tissues are arranged into organs. E.g. Higher animals (Platyhelminthes to chordates).
- Organ system level of organization: Here, organs are associated to organ system. Each system performs a specific physiological function. E.g. Higher animals.
👉 Digestive system is 2 types:
- Incomplete: It has only a single opening that acts as mouth & anus. Seen in Cnidaria and Platyhelminthes.
- Complete: It has 2 openings (mouth & anus).
2. Body symmetry
Based on symmetry, animals are 3 types:
- Asymmetrical: Here, body cannot be divided into 2 equal halves. E.g. Most Poriferans, Snails etc.
- Radial symmetry: Here, body can be divided into 2 equal halves in any vertical plane along central axis (oral-aboral axis) of the body. E.g. some Poriferans, Cnidarians, Ctenophores and Echinoderms (adult).
- Bilateral symmetry: Here, body can be divided into equal right & left halves in only one plane. E.g. Platyhelminthes to Chordata (except adult Echinodermata).
Radial Symmetry |
Bilateral Symmetry |
3. Germinal layers (Embryonic layers)
These are layers of embryo from which all the body organs are formed.
Based on the number of germ layers, animals are 2 types- Diploblastic and Triploblastic.
- Diploblastic animals: 2 germ layers- outer ectoderm and inner endoderm. In between these layers, an undifferentiated jelly-like layer called mesoglea is present. E.g. Cnidaria & Ctenophora.
- Triploblastic animals: 3 germ layers- Outer ectoderm, middle mesoderm and inner endoderm. E.g. Platyhelminthes to Chordata.
4. Coelom (body cavity)
It is seen between body wall and gut wall.
Coelom separates the muscles of gut and body wall.
Based on the nature of coelom, animals are 3 types:
E.g. Annelids (earthworm etc.), Arthropods.
Animals with notochord are called chordates and those without notochord are called non-chordates.
Based on the nature of coelom, animals are 3 types:
- Acoelomate: No coelom. The space between body wall and digestive cavity is filled with matrix (parenchyma). E.g. Porifera to Platyhelminthes.
- Pseudocoelomate: False coelom. Here, the body cavity is not lined by mesoderm. Mesoderm is scattered pouches. E.g. Aschelminthes.
- Coelomate: True coelom. Here, the coelom arises from the mesoderm. E.g. Annelida to Chordata.
5. Metamerism (segmentation)
E.g. Annelids (earthworm etc.), Arthropods.
6. Notochord
Animals with notochord are called chordates and those without notochord are called non-chordates.
👇 Select Your Topic Here 👇
- Topic 1: Basis of Classification
- Topic 2: Porifera
- Topic 3: Cnidaria
- Topic 4: Ctenophora
- Topic 5: Platyhelminthes
- Topic 6: Aschelminthes
- Topic 7: Annelida
- Topic 8: Arthropoda
- Topic 9: Mollusca
- Topic 10: Echinodermata
- Topic 11: Hemichordata
- Topic 12: Chordata - up to Sub phylum Vertebrata
- Topic 13: Chordata - Cyclostomata, Pisces
- Topic 14: Chordata - Tetrapoda