Animals are classified based on common fundamental features, such as cellular arrangement,

body symmetry, presence or absence of a coelom, and specific features of their digestive,
circulatory, and reproductive systems.

• Cellular level of organisation: cells arranged as loose aggregates, found in Porifera

(sponges)
• Tissue level of organisation: cells performing the same function form tissues, found in
coelenterates.
• Organ level of organisation: tissues grouped together to form an organ, which
performs a particular function, e.g. Platyhelminthes
• Organ system level of organisation: a few organs coordinatively perform a certain
physiological function, e.g. Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs, Echinoderms and Chordates

✓ Open circulatory system: cells and tissues directly receive the blood pumped out of the
heart
✓ Closed circulatory system: blood is circulated through arteries, veins and capillaries

➢ Diploblastic: embryo with two germinal layers called external ectoderm and internal
endoderm, e.g. Porifera, Cnidaria
➢ Triploblastic: embryo with three germinal layers, mesoderm between ectoderm and
endoderm, e.g. Platyhelminthes to Chordates

▪ Asymmetrical: no line of symmetry in the body, e.g. sponges

▪ Radial symmetry: any plane passing through the centre divides the body into two
symmetrical halves, e.g. coelenterates, ctenophores
▪ Bilateral symmetry: a plane divides the body into symmetrical left and right halves, e.g.
annelids, arthropods, etc.

Echinoderms exhibit radial as well as bilateral symmetry at different stages of their life.

The body cavity between the body wall and gut wall, lined by mesoderm, is called the coelom

o Acoelomates: body cavity is absent, e.g. Platyhelminthes

o Pseudocoelomates: mesoderm is present as scattered pouches, e.g. Aschelminthes
o Coelomates: having a coelom (body cavity), e.g. from Annelida to Chordata

Earthworm’s body shows metameric segmentation

Animals with a notochord are called chordates, while animals without a notochord are called
non-chordates, e.g., Porifera to Echinodermata.
Classification of Animals

Classification of the animal kingdom

Classification of the Animal Kingdom based on common fundamental features

• Phylum – Porifera (Sponges)

Marine, asymmetrical with the cellular level of organisation

Food intake, gaseous exchange and excretion occur through the water transport system

Water enters through pores called Ostia and goes out through osculum via the central cavity
known as the spongocoel

Spongocoel is lined by collar cells or choanocytes

Intracellular digestion

The body skeleton is made up of spongin fibres or spicules

Sponges are hermaphrodites

Reproduce asexually by fragmentation and sexually by the formation of gametes

Fertilisation is internal, and the development of the zygote goes through a distinct larval stage

Examples: Spongilla (freshwater sponge), Euspongia (bath sponge), Sycon,

• Phylum – Coelenterata (cnidaria)

Aquatic, sessile or free-swimming, tissue level of organisation, diploblastic and radially

symmetrical and acoelomate

The central gastro-vascular cavity has a single opening called a hypostome, which is
surrounded by sensory tentacles.

Cnidoblasts are present on the tentacles, which contain nematocysts

Digestion is extracellular and intracellular

Corals have a calcium carbonate skeleton

A polyp is a sessile and cylindrical form, e.g Hydra, Adamsia

Medusa is an umbrella-shaped free-swimming form, e.g. Aurelia (jellyfish)

In some coelenterates, e.g., Obelia, alternation of generations (metagenesis) exists. Polyps

form medusae asexually, and medusae produce polyps sexually.

Examples: Meandrina (Brain coral), Adamsia (Sea anemone), Gorgonia (Sea-fan), Physalia
(Portuguese man of war)
 • Phylum – Ctenophora (sea walnuts or comb jellies)

Marine, tissue level of organisation, diploblastic and radially symmetrical and acoelomate

Eight rows of ciliated comb plates are present externally

Digestion is extracellular and intracellular

Bioluminescence is present

Hermaphrodite

Sexual reproduction, fertilisation is external with indirect development

Examples: Ctenoplana, Pleurobrachia

• Phylum – Platyhelminthes (flatworms)

Mostly endoparasites, dorsoventrally flattened body, triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical,

acoelomate with an organ level of organisation

Hooks and suckers are present in parasites

Flame cells are present, which help in osmoregulation and excretion

Hermaphrodite or monoecious

Internal fertilisation and indirect development through many larval stages

Planaria can regenerate

Examples: Fasciola (Liver fluke), Taenia (tapeworm)

• Phylum – Aschelminthes

Free-living or parasitic, aquatic or terrestrial

Round body in cross-section, bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, pseudocoelomate with organ

system organisation

The alimentary canal is complete and has a muscular pharynx

Dioecious, females are longer than males

Internal fertilisation with direct or indirect development

Examples: Ascaris (roundworm), Wuchereria (Filarial worm), Ancylostoma (hookworm)

Phylum – Annelida

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system organisation

Metamerically segmented

Longitudinal and circular muscles help in locomotion

Nereis, an aquatic animal, has appendages called parapodia, which help in swimming

Closed circulatory system

Nephridia are present for osmoregulation and excretion

Paired ganglia are present, which are connected to the double ventral nerve cord by lateral
nerves

Reproduction is sexual. Nereis is dioecious, earthworms and leeches are monoecious

Examples: Pheretima (earthworm), Nereis, Hirudinaria (bloodsucking leech)

• Phylum – Arthropoda

The largest phylum with two-thirds of all known animals

It contains insects

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system organisation

Their body is covered by a chitinous exoskeleton

The characteristic property of the group is jointed legs

Their body can be divided into three regions: head, thorax and abdomen

Respiration is by trachea, gills, book gills, book lungs

The circulatory system is an open type

Statocysts or balancing organs are present

Eyes are simple or compound

Malpighian tubules help in excretion

Mostly dioecious, oviparous, and fertilisation is internal

Examples: economically important species- Bombyx (silkworm), Apis (honey bee). Vectors for
diseases- mosquitoes like Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex.Living fossil- Limulus (King crab)

• Phylum – Mollusca

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system organisation

Unsegmented body covered with a calcareous shell

A distinct head, muscular foot and the visceral hump are present

Respiratory and excretory functions are executed by feather-like gills

The radula is a rasping organ for feeding

They are dioecious, oviparous, with indirect development

Examples: Pila (apple snail), Octopus (devilfish), Loligo (squid), Sepia (cuttlefish), Pinctada
(pearl oyster)

• Phylum – Echinodermata

Adult- radially symmetrical, larvae- bilaterally symmetrical

Triploblastic and coelomate

Endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles

The mouth is present on the ventral side, and the anus is on the dorsal side

The characteristic feature is the presence of the Water vascular system, which helps in feeding,
locomotion and respiration

Dioecious, external fertilisation with indirect development

Examples: Asterias (starfish), Ophiura (brittle star), Antedon (sea lily), Echinus (sea urchin)

• Phylum – Hemichordata

Presence of a stomochord, a structure similar to the notochord

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system organisation

Cylindrical body with a proboscis, a collar and a long trunk

Gills are present, and circulation is open type

The proboscis gland works as an excretory organ

Dioecious, external fertilisation with indirect development

Examples: Balanoglossus, Saccoglossus

• Phylum – Chordata

Characteristic features are a dorsal hollow nerve cord, a notochord and paired gill slits

Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system organisation

The circulatory system is closed, and the post-anal tail is present

Three subphylums come under Chordata:

Urochordata– notochord present only in the larval tail, e.g. Ascidia, Salpa, Doliolum
Cephalochordata– notochord present throughout life from head to tail, e.g. Branchiostoma
(Lancelet or amphioxus)

Vertebrata– Notochord is present in the embryonic stage, and it gets replaced by the Vertebral
Column

Vertebrata is further divided into two divisions

Agnatha (without jaws): Class Cyclostomata

Gnathostomata (with jaws): has two Super Classes:

Pisces (bear fins): two Classes- Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes

Tetrapoda (bear limbs): four classes- Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammals

Watch the video below to know more about Chordates.

Class I – Cyclostomata (Circular Mouthed Fishes)

Characterised by a circular and sucking mouth without jaws

Ectoparasites on fishes

6-15 pairs of gill slits

Scales and fins are absent

Cartilaginous vertebral column and cranium

Closed-type circulation

Marine but migrate to freshwater for spawning, where they die. Larvae after metamorphosis
come back to the ocean.

Examples: Petromyzon (Lamprey), Myxine (Hagfish)

Class II – Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous fishes)

The cartilaginous endoskeleton, the mouth is on the ventral side

Gill is without an operculum

The notochord is present throughout life

Placoid scales are present on the skin, which makes it tough

It swims constantly to avoid sinking, as air bladders are absent

Two-chambered heart and poikilothermous (cold-blooded)

Separate sexes, internal fertilisation and many are viviparous

Claspers are present on the male’s pelvic fin

Electric organs are present in Torpedo and Trygon, which have a poison sting.

Examples: Scoliodon (Dogfish), Trygon (Stingray), Pristis (Sawfish), Carcharodon (Great white
shark)

Class III – Osteichthyes (Bony fishes)

Streamlined body, bony endoskeleton, 4 pairs of gills with operculum

Skin is covered by cycloid scales

Two-chambered heart and an air bladder for buoyancy, poikilothermous

Sexes are separate, oviparous, with external fertilisation, and with direct development

Examples: Marine- Hippocampus (Sea horse), Exocoetus (Flying fish)

Freshwater- Labeo (Rohu), Clarias (Magur), Catla (Katla)

Aquarium- Betta (Fighting Fish), Pterophyllum (Angelfish)

Super Class: Tetrapoda

Characteristic Class IV – Class V – Class VI – Class VII –

Amphibia Reptilia Aves Mammalia

Habitat Aquatic as well Mostly Terrestrial Mostly

as terrestrial terrestrial (capable of terrestrial, but a
flight) few can fly or
live in water
Body Covering Skin is moist, Dry cornified Feathers for Skin is hairy
and scales are skin with scales flying; Dry skin
absent or scutes with only oil
glands at the
base of the tail,
pneumatic
bones (hollow
bones)
Locomotion/Limbs Two pairs of Limbs are Forelimbs Two pairs of
limbs absent or two modified into limbs
pairs wings;
hindlimbs
modified for
walking,
swimming,
clasping, etc.
 Respiration By gills, skin, or The respiratory The respiratory The respiratory
lungs organ is the organ is the organ is the
lungs lungs lungs

Heart Chambers 3-chambered 3-chambered 4-chambered 4-chambered

heart heart (4- heart heart
chambered
heart in
crocodiles)
Body Temperature Poikilotherms Poikilotherms Homeotherms Homeotherms
(cold-blooded) (cold-blooded) (warm-blooded) (warm-blooded)
Reproduction Oviparous Oviparous Oviparous (egg- Viviparous (give
(egg-laying) (egg-laying) laying) birth to live
young);
Platypus
(Oviparous)
Fertilisation & Sexes are Sexes are Sexes are Sexes are
Dev. separate, with separate, with separate, with separate, with
external internal internal internal
fertilisation with fertilisation with fertilisation with fertilisation with
indirect direct direct direct
development development development development
Examples Frog, Crocodile, Birds (crow, Kangaroo, Cat,
Salamander, Alligator, pigeon, parrot, Lion, Blue
Ichthyophis Chameleon, etc.), Ostrich Whale, Dolphin
(limbless Naja (cobra), (flightless bird)
salamander) Viper