Animal Kingdom - Key Characteristics with Examples

 Major Phyla:

1. Porifera
2. Coelenterata (Cnidaria)
3. Ctenophora
4. Platyhelminthes
5. Aschelminthes
6. Annelida
7. Arthropoda
8. Mollusca
9. Echinodermata
10. Hemichordata
11. Chordata

1. Phylum Porifera

• Commonly called sponges
• Asymmetrical bodies without distinct tissue or organs
• Presence of canal system
• Presence of food filtering cells called collar cells or choanocytes
• Skeleton made up of spicules or spongin fibres or both.
• Examples of Phylum Porifera : Euplectella, Sycon, Spogilla, Euspongia

2. Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria)

• Cnidoblasts (sting cells) have nematocysts (stinging organs) for offence and defence.
• Posses two forms : Polyp (sessile) and Medusa (free swiming)
• Alternation of generation (Metagenesis)
• Examples of Coelenterata (Cnidaria):Aurelia (Medusa), Adamsia (Polyp)

3. Phylum Ctenophora

• Comb plates for locomotion
• Bioluminescence
• Examples of Phylum Ctenophora: 

4. Phylum Platyhelminthes

• commonly called flatworms
• mostly endoparasites
• Flat body, suckers
• Bilateral symmetry
• Flame cells helps in osmoregulation and excretion
• Examples of Phylum Platyhelminthes: Liver fluke,  Hydra,  Tape worm

5. Phylum Aschelminthes

• commonly known as roundworms
• Often worm-shaped, elongated.
• Pseudocoelomate
• Bilateral symmetry
• Examples of Phylum Aschelminthes: Roundworm, Hookworm, Filarial worm

6. Phylum Annelida

• Metamerically segmented (Body segmentation like rings)
• Possess Parapodia for swimming, nephridia for excretion, ganglia for neural system
• Bilateral symmetry
• Examples of Phylum Annelida: Nereis, Hirudinaria (Leech), Earthworms

7. Phylum Arthropoda

• Largest Phylum of Animalia, which includes insects
• Chitinous exoskeleton
• Body consists of head, throrax and abdomen
• Jointed appendages
• Respiratory organs: gills, book gills, book lungs or tracheal system
• Excretion takes place through Malpighian Tubules
• Examples of Phylum Arthropoda:Locust, Butterfly, Scorpion, Prawn, Cockroach, Housefly, Spider

8. Phylum Mollusca

• Second largest phylum
• Body is covered by a calcareous shell
• Bodies are divided into head- foot, visceral mass, and mantle
• The mouth contains a file like rasping organ for feeding, called radula

Examples of Phylum Mollusca:

• Pila (Apple snail)
• Pictada(Pearl Oyster)
• Sepia(Cuttle fish)
• Chiton(Chaetopleura)
• Octopus(Devil fish)
• Loligo (Squid)
• Dentalium (Tusk shell)
• Aplysia(Sea hare)

9. Phylum Echinodermata

• Presence of Water vascular system which helps in locomotion, capture and transport of food and respiration.
• Adults Radial symmetrical but larvae bilateral symmetrical

Examples of Phylum  Echinodermata:

• Asterias (Star fish)
• Ophiura (Brittle star)
• Antedon (Sea lily)
• Cucumaria(Sea cucumber)
• Echinus (Sea urchin)

10. Phylum Hemichordata

• Worm-like with proboscis, collar and trunk.
• Bilateral Symmetry
• Excretory system is proboscis gland

Examples of Phylum Hemichordata: 

• Balanoglossus
• Saccoglossus

11. Phylum Chordata

• Presence of Notochord
• Dorsal hollow nerve cord
• Paired pharyngeal gill slits with limbs or fins

Examples of Phylum Chordata: 

• Mammals
• Fish : Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Amphibians