ANIMAL KINGDOM NOTES

Basis of Classification

Animals are classified on the basis of following few fundamental features:

(i) Levels of Organisation:

(a) Cellular level : Cells are arranged as loose cell aggregates.

Example: sponges.

(b) Tissue level: The cells performing the same function are arranged into tissues.

Example:Coelenterates.

(c) Organ level : Tissues are grouped together to form organs, each specialised for a particular
function.

Example:Platyhelminthes.

(d) Organ system level: Organs are associated to form functional systems like Annelids,
Arthropods, Molluscs, Echinoderms and Chordates.

Example: Circulatory System.

Open type: Blood pumped out through heart. Not confined to blood vessels. Cells and tissues are
directly bathed in it.

Closed types: Blood is circulated through blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries)

(ii) Symmetry

Asymmetrical: Cannot be divided into equal halves through median plane.

Example:&;Sponges.

Radial symmetry: Any plane passing through central axis can divide organism into identical halves.
Example; coelenterates, Ctenophores and echinoderms.

Bilateral symmetry: Only one plane can divide the organism into two identical left and right halves

Example: Annelids and Arthropods.

(iii) Germinal Layers

Diploblastic : Cells arranged in two embryonic layers i.e., external ectoderm and internal endoderm.
(Mesoglea may be present in between ectoderm and endoderm)

Example: Coelentrates. (Cnidarians)

Triploblastic: Three layers present in developing embryo i.e., ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.

Example:&;Platyhelminthes to Chordates.

(iv) Coelom (Body cavity which is lined by mesoderm)

Coelomates: Have coelom

Example: Annelids, Arthropods, molluscs, Echinoderms, Chordates etc.

Pseudo coelomates: No true coelom as mesoderm is present in scattered pouches between ectoderm
and endoderm.

Example: Aschelminthes.

Acoelomates: Body cavity is absent

Example:&;Platyhelminthes.

(v) Segmentation

Metamerism: If body is externally and internally divided into segments (metameres) with serial
repetition of atleast some organs, then phenomenon is called metamerism.

Example; Earthworm.

(vi) Notochord

Rod-like structure formed during embryonic development on the dorsal side.

It is mesodermally derived.

Example: Chordates.

Non-chordates do not have notochord. Example: porifera to echinoderms.

Phylum Poriferaii

Also called sponges.

Are usually marine and asymmetrical.

Have cellular level of organisation

Food gathering, respiratory exchange and removal of wastes occurs through water canal system.
Digestion intracellular.

Ostia (minute pores on body), spongocoel (body cavity) and osculum help in water transport.
They are lined by choanocytes (collar cells)

Body wall has skeleton of spicules or spongin fibres.

Animals are hermaphrodite. Fertilisation internal. Development is indirect (i.e., has a larval stage
distinct from adult stage)

Example: Sycon, Euspongia,Spongilla (Fresh water sponge)

Phylum Coelenterata

Also called Cnidarians.

Are usually marine and radially symmetrical.

Sessile or free swimming.

Have tissue level of organisation.

Are diploblastic (with mesoglea)

Capture of prey, anchorage and defense occurs through cnidoblasts/cnidocytes (have stinging
capsules nematocytes) present on tentacles.

Digestion extracellular and intracellular.

Have a central gastro-vascular cavity and an opening, hypostome.

Body wall of some composed of calcium carbonate. Example:corals.

Exhibit two body forms: polyp and medusa&;Example:&;Hydra, Aurelia.

Alternation of generation between body forms called metagenesis ocurs in Obelia where:

Example:Physalia, Adamsia

Phylum Ctenophora

Also called as sea walnuts or comb jellies.

Are exclusively marine, radially symmetrical

Have tissue level organisation, are diploblastic.

Digestion both extra and intracellular.

Body has eight external rows of ciliated comb plates for locomotion.

Show Bioluminescence (Property of living organisms to emit light).

Hermaphrodite (sexes are not separate).

Only sexual reproduction occurs. Exernal fertilization. Indirect development

Example:Ctenoplana, Pleurobrachia.

Phylum Plathyhelminthes

Also called as flat worms

Have dorsoventrally flattened body. Are mostly endoparasites in animals.

Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, acoelomate, with organ level of organization.

Absorb nutrients through body surface.

Parasitic forms have hooks and suckers.

Flame cells help in osmoregulation and excretion.

Sexes not separate.

Fertilization internal. Many larval stages present. Planaria has high regeneration capacity.

Example: Taenia, Fasciola.

Phylum Aschelminthes

Also called; round worms;.

May be free living, parasitic, aquatic or terrestrial.

Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, pseudo coelomate.

Alimentary canal complete (has muscular pharynx), wastes removed through excretory pore.

Sexes separate. (dioecious)

Females longer than males.

Fertilization internal. Development direct or indirect.

Example: Ascaris, Wuchereria

Phylum Annelida

Are aquatic or terrestrial, free-living or parasitic.

Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, organ-system level of organisation and metamerically

segmented body.
Are coelomate animals.

Have longitudinal and circular muscles for locomotion.

Have closed circulatory system.

Nereis (dioecious and aquatic annelid) has lateral appendages called parapodia for swimming.

Have nephridia for osmoregulation and excretion. Neural system consists of paired ganglia
connected by lateral nerves to a double ventral nerve cord.

Reproduction is sexual.

Example: Earthworm (Pheretima) and Leech (Hirudinaria) which are hermaphrodites (i.e.,
monoecious).

Phylum Arthropoda

Largest phylum of Animalia.

Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, segmented externally and organ system level of
organization, coelomate.

Body divisible into head, thorax, abdomen and has a chitinous exoskeleton. Jointed appendages are
present.

Respiration by gills, book gills, book lungs or tracheal system. Excretion through malpighian tubules.

Sensory organs: Antennae, eyes; Organs of balance: Statocysts.

Fertilization usually internal. Development is indirect or direct. Are mostly oviparous.

Example: Apis, Bombyx, Anopheles, Periplaneta

Phylum Mollusca

Second largest phylum of Animalia.

Terrestrial or aquatic

Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and organ system level of organization, coelomate.

Body divisible into head, muscular foot and visceral hump and is covered by calcareous shell and is
unsegmented.

Mantle: Soft and spongy layer of skin.

Mantle cavity: Space between visceral hump and mantle.

Respiration and excretion by feather like gills in mantle cavity.

Head has sensory tentacles. Radula-file like rasping organ for feeding in mouth.

Are oviparous, dioecious, have indirect development.

Example:Pila, Octopus,

Phylum Echinodermata

Are spiny bodied organisms with endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles.

Are exclusively marine, radially symmetrical in adult but bilaterally symmetrical in larval stage.
Organ system level of organization.

Triploblastic and coelomate.

Digestive system complete. Mouth ventral, Anus on dorsal side.

Food gathering, respiration, locomotion carried out by water vascular system.

Excretory system is absent.

Reproduction; sexual, sexes are separate.

I8Fertilization external. Development indirect (free swimming larva)

Example: Asterias, , Echinus,

Phylum Hemichordata

Represents small group of worm-like organisms.

Was earlier placed as sub-phylum of Phylum Chordata.

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and coelomate with organ system level of organization.

Body cylindrical, has proboscis, collar and trunk.

Circulatory System; open.

Respiration by gills, excretion by proboscis gland.

Sexes separate, external fertilization, indrect development.

Example: Balanoglossus, saccoglossus.

Phylum Chordata

Presence of Notochord.

Have dorsal hollow nerve chord

Have paired pharyngeal gill slits.

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system level of organization.

Heart is ventral.

Post anal tail present, closed circulatory system.

(i) Sub-Phyla Urochordata /Tunicata

Notocohord present only in larval tail.

Example: Ascidia

(ii) Sub-phyla Cephalochordata

Notochord extends from head to tail (Persistent)

Example: Amphioxus.

(iii) Sub-Phyla Vertebrata

Have notochord only during embryonic period.

Notochord gets replaced by bony or cartilaginous vertebral column.

Have ventral muscular heart, kidneys for excretion and osmoregulation, paired appendages (fins or
limbs)
(i) Agnatha (Lacks Jaw):&;

Class: Cyclostomata

Live as ectoparasites on some fishes.

Have sucking and circular mouth without jaws.

Have 6-15 paris of gill slits for respiration.

No scales, no paried fins.

Cranium and vertebral column is cartilaginous.

Marine, Migrate to fresh water for spawning and die after spawning.

Larva returns to ocean after metamorphosis.

Example: Petromyzon, Myxine

(ii) Gnathostomata (Bear Jaws)

Divides into two super classes:

(a) Super Class: Pisces

(b); Super Class: Tetrapoda

(a) Super-class: Pisces

(b) Super Class: Tetrapoda – includes amphibian, reptilian, aves and mammalia

Comparative table on the groups of vertebrates: