Animal Kingdom
Introduction
What do you have in common with a rhinoceros, a bat, a killer whale and an armadillo? Besides being in the animal kingdom, you and these animals also belong to a group known as mammals. Nearly two million different kinds (species) of animals in the world have been identified. Biologists keep track of them by classifying them into groups of animals with similar characteristics. Learn more about the classification of different types of animals with these fun card games.
Concepts
- Animal phyla
- Classification
- Taxonomy
Background
Keeping track of all the various species of animals and identifying relationships between them present a great challenge. Some scientists estimate that only 10% of all animal species have been identified and named! Thousands of new species are being discovered every year. How do biologists decide to which group each belongs?
The field of biology that identifies and classifies organisms into categories is called taxonomy (from the Greek word, taxis, meaning arrangement). The general classification system that taxonomists use today is based upon a system developed in the mid-1700s by the Swedish biologist, Carl von Linnaeus (1707–1778). He established a system of groups based on likeness in structure. Each group is a category into which related organisms are placed. Since Linnaeus’ time, the system of classification has undergone many changes, and the field of taxonomy is one that often results in disagreements. Eight major taxonomic groups are generally accepted today. They are (from most general to most specific) domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.
The animal phyla represented on the cards are listed below, along with general characteristics of each. Three classes of the phylum Arthropoda are represented on the cards because of the numerous species that are known to exist (about one million). Six classes of the phylum Chordata are represented on the cards because they are the most familiar animals.
- Cnidaria (ni DAR ee a)—Aquatic, body arranged in a circular pattern (radial symmetry), stinging tentacles, sac-like gut with only one body opening
- Platyhelminthes (PLAT ee hel MIN thes)—Known as flatworms, body has matching right and left sides (bilateral symmetry), body cavity has only one opening, most are parasitic, some free-living
- Nematoda (nem a TOE da)—Largest group of worms, known as roundworms, most free-living and some parasitic, bilateral symmetry, slender and tapered at both ends, body cavity has two openings
- Annelida (uh NEL i da)—Worm-like body divided into many similar-looking segments, bilateral symmetry, soft outer body covering
- Mollusca (mol LUS ka)—Soft-bodied, bilateral symmetry, internal or external shell, some with tentacles
- Echinodermata (e KI no der MOT a)—Marine animals, radial symmetry, hard internal skeleton covered with a bumpy or spiny “skin,” unique water-vascular system with tube feet
- Arthropoda (ar thruh PO da)—Animals with jointed appendages, exoskeletons
- Class Arachnida (a RAK ni da)—Four pairs of legs, two body segments (fused in some species), no antennae
- Class Crustacea (crus TAY she a)—Most aquatic, most have gills, one or two pairs of segmented antennae, very hard exoskeleton contains calcium and other minerals
- Class Insecta (in SEK ta)—Three body segments, three pairs of legs, one pair of antennae, some have wings, more identified species than all other animals combined
- Chordata (cor DOT a)—Animals with a dorsal (situated at the back) nerve chord, best known are the vertebrates (sub-phylum) which have an internal skeleton with a cranium and spinal column
- Class Chondrichthyes (con DRIK thee eez)—Cartilaginous fish (skeletons made of cartilage), body covered in tiny sandpaper-like scales, external gill slits, ectothermic (internal body temperature changes with environment)
- Class Osteichthyes (os tee IK thee eez)—Bony fish (skeleton made of bone), most have swim bladders to regulate density, gill slits covered, body covered with flattened scales, ectothermic
- Class Amphibia (am FIB ee a)—Body covered with smooth skin, most young have gills, adults breathe through skin and/or lungs, most have two pairs of appendages, ectothermic
- Class Reptilia (rep TIL ee a)—Body covered with dry scales, lay leathery-shelled eggs, no legs or four legs, breathe with lungs, ectothermic
- Class Aves (Ay veez)—Body covered with feathers, front appendages modified as wings, beaks or bills with no teeth, no external ear structure, lay hard-shelled eggs, endothermic (constant internal body temperature)
- Class Mammalia (mam MAY le a)—Body has hair, most give birth to live young, female produces milk from glands, most have external ear structures, endothermic
Experiment Overview
In this activity, animals from eight phyla and nine classes will be studied. Three different card games—Classification Concentration, Go Fish and Don’t Get Hooked!—will be played to learn more about the types of animals found in each group.
Materials
Animal Kingdom deck of “creature cards” Classification Concentration game directions Don’t Get Hooked! game directions Go Fish game directions
Procedure
See the game directions PDF for specific instructions for each game. Be sure to return all cards to the original container when finished with the game.
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