Sea stars are part of Phylum Echinodermata. It seems odd to imagine lobsters and spiders in the same phylum, but they are. Arthropods are symmetrical, segmented creatures that appear in all forms and inhibit varied habitats. It is the most diverse and numerous out of all animal phyla. Insects, crustaceans, centipedes, and spiders all belong to one group: Phylum Arthropoda. They are usually broken into two categories: ringed worms and segmented worms. They have segmented bodies and usually have a cuticle layer. Examples of annelids are earthworms, leeches, and the less well-known ragworms. Other examples include:Īnnelids are also worm-like or vermiform organisms. These soft-bodied creatures vary in appearance and habitats. Some of these mollusks have shells but others, like slugs and squids, do not. Snails and clams are a few familiar examples of the very diverse Phylum Mollusca. They also have symmetrical and unsegmented bodies. Nematodes are similar to arthropods in that they have exoskeletons and undergo shedding. Roundworms are also called nematodes because they belong to Phylum Nematoda. They are the simplest triploblastic animals. They also have a radially symmetric body and two germ layers (diploblastic).įlatworms, tapeworms, and flukes make up Phylum Platyhelminthes. These soft-bodied creatures are often aquatic and are known to sting.

They also have asymmetrical bodies, flagellated cells, and pores. They are the most basal of all animals, and many people are surprised to learn that they’re classified as animals at all.Īlthough they lack true tissues and organs, they do have specialized cells. For this article, I’ll briefly discuss the main phyla of animals. Kingdom Animalia is subdivided into various groups with their own set of characteristics.Įach animal belongs to a particular phylum, which may be further subdivided into orders, families, classes, and other taxa. However, since not all animals are mobile, it isn’t a defining trait. Animal cells are diploid or contain two sets of chromosomes, except for gamete cells, which only have one set.Īnother notable animal trait is mobility. Fungi and plants have rigid cell walls, which are distinctly absent in animals. Unlike plants, animals cannot photosynthesize food and have to consume other organisms for nutrients. They have membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus that stores genetic material like DNA. Thus, members of the kingdom Animalia all have similar characteristics.Īn organism is considered to be an animal if they have the following traits:

Each taxon has a specific set of qualities that unite its members through similarity. Organisms are classified into kingdoms, orders, and other taxa based on their traits. The Characteristics That Make an Animal an Animal Each phylum has a unique set of uniting traits. They are further categorized into phyla or other types, such as sponges and chordates. There are so many things to know about them, and I'm about to share a few.Ī fact about animals that you need to know is that they all belong to one kingdom and share common characteristics. This is because elephant leg bones are positioned downwards and have zero spring to push off the ground. Elephants are the only known land animal that cannot jump. They do this to conserve moisture during very dry periods. Snails can sometimes sleep for up to three years. Animals do all kinds of crazy things that we do not even realize. That is right you are an animal, we all are. There are animals that live in the woods, underwater, in a tree, in a cave, and even in your own home. There are thought to be just under nine million different animal species out in the world. Sense can help them find food, find a warm place to sleep, or just get away from danger. Their bodies have senses (hearing, seeing, smell) that allow them to react to changes in the things around them. Animals are living things that go about eating plants or other animals for food.

Staying afloat worksheet answers