ANIMAL CLASSIFICAT ION

Biological classification, is a method to group and categorizeorganismsbybiological type, such asgenus orspecies. Biological classification is part ofscientific taxonomy. Modern biological classification has its root in the work ofCarolus Linnaeus, who grouped species according to shared physical characteristics.Molecular phylogenetics, which usesDNA sequencesas data, has driven many recent revisions and is likely to continue to do so.

Animals
Unicellular Protozoa cellular level - Parazoa Porrifera Diploblastic / Bilateral Radiata Coelentrata , Ctenophora Acoelomate Platyhelminthes Pseudocoelomate Aschelminthes Multicellular Metazoa Tissue level Eumetazoa Triploblastic / Eucoelomate

Phylum Protozoa
Free living protozoans are usually aquatic (marine or

freshwater). Several protozoans are commensal, symbiotic or parasitic. Most protozoans are solitary but some are colonial also. Small usually microscopic Cellular with one or more than one nuclei. Non-symmetrical, bilateral, radial, spherical. Body is covered with a pellicle. Locomotion is by pseudopodia, flagella and cilia Nutrition is holozoic, holophytic, parasitic or saprozoic. Excretion is through contractile vacuoles or through body surface. Reproduction can be asexually or sexually with alternation of generation. They are divided into five classes based on their locomotory organelles Rhizopoda, Flagellata, sporozoa, Ciliophora and Suctoria

Amoeba

Paramecium

Trypanosoma

Trichonympha

Phylum Porifera
Mostly marine. No definite symmetry Body multicellular, few tissues, no organs. Cells and tissues surround a water filled space but there is no true body cavity. All are sessile, (live attached to something as an adult). Reproduce sexually or asexually. Sexual reproduction can be either gonochoristic or hermaphroditic. Has a distinct larval stage which is planktonic. All are filter feeders. Often have a skeleton of spicules. Sponges are divided into four classes based on the nature of the skeleton Demospongia, Hexactinellida, Calcarea and Stromatoporoida Examples : Spongilla, Sycon, Leucosolinia, Hylonema

Spongilla

Sycon

Leucosolinia

Phylum coelenterate
Diploblastic, aquatic and mostly are marine in nature
They have a single opening into the body which acts as both the mouth and anus. Coelenterates contain body cavity known as the coelenteron, where the digestion of food occurs Exist as tubular sessile polyp forms and swimming medusa forms. Polyp bodies often contain exoskeleton and endoskeleton made of calcium carbonates. Medusae generally have only hydrostatic skeletons. Coelenterates are generally carnivorous in nature, except corals. They lack such sensory organs like eyes. Nematocyst( stinging cells) is common in all coelenterates. Also contains structures called spirocysts and ptychocysts. The phylum is divided in to three major classes based on the stage of the body form - anthozoa, hydrozoa, and scyphozoan. Examples : Hydra, Obelia, Physalia, coral, jelly fish

Hydra

Aurellia

Coral

Metridium

Phylum Ctenophora
Exclusively marine, commonly called as comb jellies or sea walnuts. Radially or biradially symmetrical, no segmentation Acoelomate, Triploblastic Body is soft, delicate, transparent , gelatinous and phosphoresent. Their external surface possess 8 vertical rows of comb plates of fused cilia for locomotion. Possess long tentacles that bear colloblasts or lasso cells or adhesive cells for protection and to help them catch their prey. All are carnivorous. Respiratory, circulatory, excretory and skeletal systems are absent. Has a diffused nervous system. Monoecious, reproduces sexually. Indirect development with cydippid larva. Paedogenesis and regeneration are common. Examples : Hormiphora, Pleurobrachia,

Pleuronrachia pileus

Hormiphora cucumis

Platyhelminthes
Mostly aquatic ,some terrestrial, bilateral symmetry, acoelomate, triploblastic Absence of circulatory and respiratory organs . Respiration occurs throughout body surface Possesses a type of skeleton. Mesenchyme or parenchyme is a connective tissue which fills the space between the skin and gut in these animals. The digestive system is incomplete without anus. The excretory system of these animals is well-developed and is called protonephredia. The protonephridia also help in Osmoregulation. Nervous system comprises pair of anterior ganglia or a nerve ring connected to 1-3 pairs of longitudinal nerve chords with transverse commissures. These ganglia serve as the brain. Sense organs like eye spots or photoreceptors are present. Can reproduce asexually and as well as sexually. The development is either direct or indirect Including larval stages such as miracidium, sporocysts, cercaria, metacercaria, oncosphore, hexacanth and