CHAPTER – 04 : ANIMAL KINGDOM

Level of organization :
 Cellular level - organ level.
 Tissue level – organ system level (open and closed circulation).
 Complete/incomplete digestive system (hydra).

Body symmetry :
 Asymmetrical (E.g.- Sponges).
 Symmetrical - Bilatral symmetry (Annelids and Arthropods) and Radial symmetry (Ctenophora,
Coelenterate and Echinoderms).

Nature of Coelom (Body cavity) :

 Coelomate – body cavity with ecto, endo and mesoderms. E.g.- Annelids, Molluscs, Arthropods,
Echinoderms, hemichordates and chordates.
 Pseudocoelomate – no mesoderm, have only ectoderm and endoderm layers. E.g.- Aschelminthes
(round worms).
 Acoelomate – no body cavity. E.g.- Platyhelminthes (flat worms).

Body plan :
 Cell aggregate plan.
 Blind sac body plan.

Embryonic germinal layers (Pattern of development) :

 Diploblastic (Coelenterates) – only ectoderm and endoderm.
 Triploblastic organization (Platyhelminthes to Chordates) – ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm.

Segmentation of the body : Metameric segmentation – true segmentation (metamerism). E.g.– Earthworm.

Notochord :
 It is a mesodermal origin.
 Rod like structure.
 Animals with notochord are chordates and without notochord are non-chordates.

CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMAL KINGDOM INTO DIFFERENT PHYLUM :

1. Porifera :
 Commonly called Sponges.
 Marine, asymmetrical, cellular level of organization.
 Have water canal system - Ostia (entry opening), Spongocoel (central canal) and Osculum
exit opening).
 Choanocytes/collar cells line in the spongocoel.
 Digestion is intracellular.
 Skeleton made up of spicules/sponging fibres.
 Hermaphrodite (male and female organs present on the same body).
 Reproduce asexually by fragmentation.
 Sexually by gametes formation.
 Fragmentation is internal and development is indirect.
E.g.- Sycon, Spongilla.
2. Coelenterata :
 Commonly called Cnidaria.
 Aquatic/marine.
 Sessile (fixed)/free swimming.
 Radially symmetrical.
 Have cnidoblasts/cnidocytes (stinging capsule on tentacles).
 Used for defence, anchorage and to capture the prey.
 Tissue level of organization, diploblastic.
 Mouth on hypostome.
 Digestion – extracellular and intracellular.
 Corals have skeleton made of calcium carbonate.
 Exhibit 2 basic forms called polyp and medusa.
 Polyp is sessile cylindrical (hydra).
 Medusa is umbrella shaped free living (jelly fish).
 They show alternation of generation (metagenesis) where polyp forms medusa asexually and
medusa forms polyp sexually. (E.g.- Obelia).
E.g.- Hydra, Physalia, Sea anemone, Sea pen, Sea fan, Brain coral.

3. Ctenophora :
 Commonly called sea walnuts/comb jellies.
 Marine, radially symmetrical diploblastic.
 Tissue level of organization.
 Body bears 8 rows ciliated comb plates help in locomotion.
 Digestion by intra and extracellular.
 Bioluminescence is well developed.
 Sexes are not separate (monoecious).
 Reproduce by sexual reproduction.
 Fertilization is external and indirect development.
 E.g.- Pleurobrachia and Ctenoplana.

4. Platyhelminthes :
 Commonly called flat worms.
 Dorso-ventrally flattened body.
 Endoparasites, bilaterally symmetrical.
 Organ level of organization.
 Triploblastic, Acoelomate.
 Hooks and suckers are present.
 Flame cells for excretions.
 Sexes are not separate.
 Fertilization is internal and development is through many larval stages.
 Have high regeneration capacity.
E.g.- Tape worm, Planaria, Liver fluke.

5. Aschelminthes :
 Commonly called round worms.
 Free living, aquatic, terrestrial, parasitic.
 Organ system level of body organization.
 Bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic.
  Pseudocoelomate.
 Digestive system is complete (mouth and anus).
 Sexes are separate (dioecious).
 Fertilization is internal and development is direct.
E.g.- Ascaris, Wuchereria (filarial worm) and Ancylostoma (hookworm).

6. Annelida :
 Aquatic/terrestrial.
 Free living/parasites.
 Organ system level of body organization.
 Bilaterally symmetrical.
 Triploblastic.
 Coelomate.
 Body divides into segments/metameres (annulus - little ring).
 Marine Nereis possesses parapodia.
 Possess longitudinal and circular muscles help in locomotion.
 Closed circulatory system.
 Nephridia help in osmoregulation and excretion.
 Dioecious (sexes are separate).
 Earthworm and leeches are monoecious.
 Reproduction is sexual.
E.g.- Nereis, Pheretima (earth worm) and Hirudinaria (blood sucking leech).

7. Arthropoda :
 Largest phylum 2/3 is insects.
 Organ system level of body organization.
 Bilaterally symmetrical.
 Segmented and coelomate.
 Chitinous exoskeleton.
 Body has head, thorax and abdomen.
 Have jointed appendages (organs for locomotion) respiratory organs are Gills/Book
gills/Book lungs/Tracheal system.
 Open circulatory system.
 Sense organs are antennae, eye, statocysts (balance organs).
 Fertilization is internal.
 Excretion by malpighian tubules.
 Sexes are separate (dioecious).
 Oviparous.
 Development may be direct/indirect.
 Economic importance – Honey bees (Apis), Silkworm (Bombyx).
 Vectors – Mosquito, Housefly.
 Aquatic – Crab, Prawn, Lobster.

8. Mollusca :
 Second largest phylum.
 Terrestrial and aquatic.
 Organ system level of body organization.
 Bilaterally symmetrical.
 Triploblastic and Coelomate.
  Calcareous shell and unsegmented body with head muscular foot and visceral hump.
 Soft spongy layer of skin forms a mantle over the visceral hump.
 Gills for respiration and excretion.
 Head has sensory tentacles.
 Mouth has file like rasping organ for feeding radula.
 Sexes are separate (dioecious).
 Oviparous.
 Indirect development.
 E.g.- Oyster, Snail, Squid, Devil fish.

9. Echinodermata :
 Spiny skin has exoskeleton which is calcarious ossicles.
 Marine; organ level of body organization.
 Radially symmetrical.
 Coelomate.
 Triploblastic.
 Mouth of the lower side and anus on the upper side.
 Have water vascular system, help in locomotion, to capture and transport of food and for
respiration.
 Excretory system is absent.
 Dioecious.
 Fertilization is external; development is indirect with free swimming larva.
E.g.- Starfish, Sea urchin, Sea lily, Sea cucumber.

10. Hemichordata :
 Under non-chordate.
 Worm like marine animals.
 Organ system level of organization.
 Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic.
 Coelomate – body has anterior proboscis, a collar and a long trunk.
 Circulatory system is open type.
 Respiration is through gills.
 Excretory organ is proboscis gland.
 Sexes are separate.
 Fertilization is external.
 Development is indirect.
 E.g.- Balanoglossus.

11. Chordata:
 Presence of notochord.
 Dorsal hollow spinal cord.
 Nerve cord and paired pharyngeal gill slits.
 Bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic.
 Coelomate.
 Organ system level of organization.
 Have post anal tail.
 Closed circulatory system.
 Difference between Chordates and Non-chordates :
 Chordates :
 Notochord present.
 Central nervous system is dorsal, hollow and single.
 Gills are present.
 Heart is ventral.
 Tail is present.
 Non-chordates :
 Notochord is absent.
 Central nervous system is ventral, solid and double.
 Gills are absent.
 Heart is dorsal.
 Tail is absent.

 Phylum Chordata is divided into three sub-phylum – Urochordata, Cephalochordata and

Vertebrata.
 Urochordata and Cephalochordata are commonly called Protochordates.
 Urochordata – notochord is present in larval tail. E.g.- Ascidia, Salpa.
 Cephalochordate – notochord extends from head to tail. E.g.- Amphioxus.

(a) Vertebrata :
 Possess notochord (replaced by vertebral column).
 All vertebrates are chordates but all chordates are not vertebrates because all
vertebrates have vertebral column but all chordates do not have vertebral column.
 Ventral muscular heart.
 Excretion by kidneys.
 Fins/limbs for locomotion.
 There are two groups – Agnatha and Gnathostomata.

(i) Agnatha :
 Jaws are absent.
 Includes class Cyclostomata.
 Cyclostomata :
 Ectoparasites on some fishes.
 Elongated body with 6-15 pairs of gill slits.
 Sucking circular mouth without jaw.
 Body is devoid of scales – paired fins.
 Cranium and vertebral column are cartilaginous.
 Circulation is closed – marine but migrate to fresh water for spawning.
 After spawning they die.
 After metamorphosis of larva it returns to the ocean.
E.g.- Lamprey, Hagfish.

(ii) Gnathostomata :
 Jaws are present.
 Paired lateral appendages.
 There are six classes – Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and
Mammalia.
 Chondrichthyes :
 Cartilaginous fish, endoskeleton is cartilage.
 Body is stream lined.
 Pelvic fins in male with claspers.
 5-7 pairs of gills.
 No operculum.
 Mouth in ventral with teeth.
 Jaws are powerful.
 Air bladder is absent.
 Heart is 2 chambered (one auricle and one ventricle).
 Some possess electric/poison stings.
 Poikilothermous (cold blooded).
 Body has placoid scales.
 Unisexual.
 Viviparous and fertilization is internal.
E.g.- Shark, Sting rays.

 Osteichthyes :
 Bony fish, endoskeleton is bone.
 Skin is covered by cycloid scales.
 Four pairs of gill slits with operculum, mouth is terminal, air bladder is present and
help in buoyancy.
 Heart is two chambered (one auricle and one ventricle).
 Poikilothermous (cold blooded).
 Sexes are separate.
 Fertilization is external and oviparous.
E.g.- Angel fish, Clown fish, Rohu, Katla, Hippocampus.

 Amphibia :
 Live on land and move to water for breeding (dual life).
 Body has head and trunk.
 Tail is in larval stage.
 Two pairs of limbs.
 Digits without claws.
 Poikilothermous.
 Eyes are with nictitating membranes.
 Skin is smooth and moist with mucous glands.
 Ear started with tympanum.
 Heart is three chambered (two auricle and one ventricle).
 Respiration by gills in larva and by lungs & skin in adults.
 Digestive system is complete.
 Urinary tract and reproductive tract open into a common cloacal chambers and the
opening is called cloacal aperture.
 Sexes are separate.
 Oviparous.
 Fertilization is external and development is indirect with tadpole larva.
E.g.- Toad, Frog.
 Reptilia :
 Skin is dry due to absence of glands.
 Covered by horny epidermal scales (scutes).
 Tympanum is small, no external opening.
 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
 Trunk bears two pairs of pentadactyl limbs with claws.
 Heart with three and half chambered (two auricles and one which is incompletely
partitioned ventricle).
 Only Crocodiles have four chambered heart.
 Respiration is by lungs.
 Fertilization is internal.
 Oviparous and egg is covered by hard calcareous shells.
E.g.- Snake, Tortoise, Turtle, Viper, Lizard.

 Aves :
 Streamlined body and covered with feathers.
 Jaws are modified into beaks, teeth absent, various shapes and sizes of beak.
 Digestive system has two structures – crop and gizzard (grinding the food).
 Forelimbs form wings.
 Hind limbs modified for perching, swimming, running, etc.
 Voice box (syrinx) is present.
 Respiration by lungs.
 Skin is dry, oil glands is present at the base of tail.
 Bones are pneumatic (air cavities) which helps to make the body light.
 Homoiothermous.
 Heart is 4 chambered.
 Oviparous and egg is covered with calcareous shells.
 Fertilization is internal.
E.g.- Pigeon, Crow, Sparrow, Ostrich.

 Mammalia :
 Aquatic/aerial/terrestrial.
 Body has head, neck, trunk and tail.
 Have mammary glands (functional in adult female).
 External ear (pinna) is present.
 Skin has sweat glands and sebaceous glands.
 Heart is 4 chambered.
 Respiration is by lungs.
 Body is covered with hairs.
 Excretion by kidneys (ureotelic – urea is the waste material).
 Sexes are separate.
 Viviparous (give birth of young ones).
 Few are ovo-viviparous like marsupials (pouched mammals with brood pouches -
Kangaroo).
 Few are oviparous (egg laying mammals - Platypus).
E.g.- Canis, Macaca, Camelus, Dolphin.