Classification Part 1: The Six Kingdoms

All living things on Earth can be classified into six major groups, or Kingdoms.

The Six Kingdoms

Archae Bacteria

Protists Fungi

Plants Animals

i.e. cholera, E. Coli

• Further classified by their external shape: rods, spirals & spheres

• Very small: 1/20th the size of a normal cell

• Made of a single cell without a nucleus

• The simplest form of life

Bacteria

i.e. thermophiles

• Can survive in a huge range of environments

• Also single-celled, small

Archae

• Do not have a nucleus

• Like bacteria, but share characteristics with complex organisms, like plants and animals

i.e. algae, seaweed

• The most diverse Kingdom – holds the “leftover” organisms

• Live in water

• Have nuclei, but are not plants or animals

• The most complex single-celled organisms

Protists

i.e. molds, mushrooms

• Decomposers: get their energy by breaking down dead organisms

• Can be helpful (yeast) or harmful (Dutch elm)

• Fungi cells have a nucleus & a cell wall

• Multicellular organisms

Fungi

• Producers: they make their own food using energy from the Sun

• Very diverse Kingdom

• Multicellular

Plants

• All plant cells contain a nucleus, cell wall and chloroplasts

i.e. moss, trees, grasses

• Consumers: get their energy from feeding on other organisms

• Very diverse Kingdom

• Multicellular

Animals

• Split into two more groups: vertebrates and invertebrates

i.e. worms, insects, you!

Any Questions?

Classification Part 2: Classifying Animals

Animals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Fish

Vertebrates Invertebrates

Arthropods

Echinoderms

Molluscs

Worms

Cnidarians

Sponges

Animals

Invertebrates

Arthropods

Echinoderms

Molluscs

Worms

Cnidarians

Sponges

Animals

Filter feed in water

Sponges

Cannot move (sessile)

A collection of cells

The simplest animals

Characteristics

Anemones Hydras

Cnidarians

Jellyfish Corals

Body symmetry (2,5,6)

Stinging tentacles

Simple body plans

Characteristics

Roundworms

Worms

Annelids

Flatworms

Some are parasites

Live in moist environments

Complex bodies

Characteristics

Gastropods

Molluscs

Bivalves Clams, oysters

Have a muscular “foot”

Most have a hard shell

Soft bodied animals

Characteristics

Cephalopods

Snails, slugs

Squid, octopi

Sand dollars

Echinoderms

Sea stars

Sea urchins

Radial symmetry

Feed on the ocean floor

Spines or skeletons

Characteristics

Crustaceans Milli/Centipedes

Arthropods

Insects Arthropods

Split into 4 groups:

Armour-like exoskeleton

Segmented bodies

Characteristics

Animals

Birds

Reptiles

Amphibians

Fish

Vertebrates Invertebrates

Animals

Fish

Bony Fish

Jawless fish Cartilaginous

Split into 3 groups:

Breathe through gills

Adapted for aquatic life

Most vertebrates are fish

Characteristics

Amphibians

Newts Toads

Salamanders Frogs

Can breathe through skin

Lay eggs in water

Live in moist environments

Characteristics

Reptiles

Turtles Crocodilians

Lizards Snakes

Ectotherms – cold blooded

Lay shelled eggs on land

Tough, scaly skin

Characteristics

Birds

Endotherms: warm-blooded

Most are adapted to fly

Wings and scaly legs

Feathers and a beak

Characteristics

Mammals

Endotherms: warm-blooded

Produce milk for young

Specialized teeth

Have hair at some point

Characteristics

Any Questions?