The animal kingdom is the largest kingdom amongst the five kingdoms consisting of all animals. Animals are multicellular eukaryotes; do not possess a cell wall or chlorophyll like plants, and share the same mode of nutrition, that is, the heterotrophic mode. Besides these similarities, they are also related to their cell arrangement, body symmetry, the level of organization, coelom, presence/absence of notochord, etc. Based on these features, the animal kingdom has been classified into 11 different phyla. The different criteria for animal classification are explained below.
It is very important to Classify the organism into different categories to study them in detail.
Categories:-
1. Level of organisation
2. Symmetry
3. Body Organisation
4. Coelom
5. Segmentation and notochord
1. Level of Organisation
Though animals are multicellular, the level of organization of cells varies from one animal to another. Certain animals have a loose mass of cells and show the cellular level of organization. Such animals have been categorized into the phylum Porifera. As we move on, the complexity of body design amplifies and the division of labour occurs among the tissues. These animals exhibit tissue levels of an organization and are classified as coelenterate. Phylum Platyhelminthes and Aschelminthes have an organ level of organization. Nor-chordates such as Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs, Echinoderms, and Chordates have a specialised organ system for their physiological activities. They have the organ-system level of organisation. Although these animals have organ-system levels of the organisation, the complexities of organ systems vary and are categorised into different phyla.
2. Symmetry
Symmetry is another basis of the classification of animals. Generally, animals show two types of symmetry-
- Radial symmetry: Asymmetry, where any plane passing through the central axis divides the body into two halves, is called radial symmetry. Examples are Coelenterates, ctenophores and echinoderms.
- Bilateral symmetry: In bilateral symmetry, only a single plane divides the body into two halves, e.g. Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs, etc.
- Bilateral symmetry - However, some animals do not show any symmetry i.e. their body can't be divided into two halves in any plane passing through the centre. Such animals are said to be asymmetrical, e.g. Poriferan
3. Body organisation:-
At the gastrula stage germ layer start preparing Diploblastic and Triploblastic Organisation
All animals develop their tissues, organs and organ system from the cells that form the embryonic layers. Based on the number of embryonic layers, animals are classified into two- diploblastic and triploblastic animals.
- Diploblastic animals: In diploblastic animals, the cells form two embryonic layers, i.e., an outer layer- ectoderm and an inner layer – endoderm, e.g. Phylum Coelenterata.
- Triploblastic animals: In triploblastic animals, cells are arranged in three embryonic layers- ectoderm, endoderm and a middle layer – mesoderm. Animals belonging to Phyla Platyhelminthes to Chordata have a triploblastic organisation
4. Coelom:- Body cavity
The coelom is a key feature for classification. The coelom is a cavity between the body wall and gut wall, lined by mesoderm. Depending on the presence/absence of coelom, animals have been classified into three:
Coelomate: Coelom is present in a coelomate. Animals belonging to phyla Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Hemichordata and Chordata are examples of coelomates.
Pseudocoelomate: In pseudocoelomates, mesoderm appears as pouches between the endoderm and ectoderm. But the cavity formed is not lined by mesoderm, e.g. Aschelminthes.
Acoelomate: Coelom is absent in an acoelomate, e.g. Platyhelminthes.
5. Segmentation and notochord
The notochord is a longitudinal, cartilaginous supporting rod running beneath the nerve cord. The animal kingdom has been broadly classified into two, based on the presence or absence of notochord- Non-Chordata and Chordata. Chordates possess notochord while non-chordates lack it. Animals belonging to the Phylum Porifera to Phylum Echinoderms are non-chordates.
External segments should correspond with internal segments or the repetition of organs.
