Classification

SESE Living Things

Life processesAll animals have to carry out seven life processes.These are:

1. Movement – being able to move its body

2. Respiration – taking in one gas and getting rid of another

3. Reproduction – being able to produce young

4. Nutrition – being able to get energy out of food

Life processes5. Growth – using energy to get bigger and repair damaged cells

6. Sensitivity – using senses, like smell and taste, to find out about the world

7. Excretion – getting rid of waste products from food

ClassificationThere are thousands of different types of animals.

Scientists try to find groups of animals with similar characteristics.

These groups can help them to identify different animals’ characteristics straight away.

Photo credit Sue Pizarro

Classification

When you are trying to work out what an animal is, it is important to pay close attention to all of its features.

Some of the most common types of animals are:

Reptiles Mammals

Fish Birds

Insects Amphibians

We have found some odd creatures; can you help us to find out what sort of an animal they are?

Classification quiz

Picture credit Sam Segar

Photo credit Zando Escultura

Does the creature have a backbone?

Yes – it is a vertebrate

No – it is an invertebrate

Classification quiz

Picture credit Sam Segar

Photo credit Zando Escultura

Invertebrates

Does the animal have a hard shell?

Yes No

Photo credit Zando Escultura

• Jellyfish are invertebrates which feed on plankton and small fish.

• They catch their prey by delivering poison to any animals which touch their tentacles.

• They are really adaptable animals and can be found in all the world’s oceans.

The animal is a jellyfish

Try another creature

Photo credit Zando Escultura

Hard shelled animalsDoes the animal have eyes?

Yes No

The animal is a lobster• The lobster is a crustacean.

• Crustaceans are all invertebrates. They have a hard shell to protect their body, two pairs of antennae and eyes on stalks.

• They also often have a set of claws for catching food.

• Most crustaceans live in water but some have adapted to live on land.

Try another creature

The animal is a mussel• Mussels are part of the mollusc family. This family also includes snails and octopus.

• Most molluscs have a shell which they use to protect themselves from predators.

• Some molluscs live in the sea and some on land.

Try another creature

Vertebrates?

Warm blooded Cold blooded

Is the animal warm or cold blooded?

Picture credit Sam Segar

The animal is a crocodile

• The crocodile is a reptile.

• Reptiles are cold blooded.

• They breathe air.

• They lay hard shelled eggs.

• They have tough scaly skin.

Try another creature

Warm blooded

Eggs Live babies

Does the animal lay eggs or give birth to live babies?

Picture credit Sam Segar

The animal is a seal• A seal is a mammal.

• Mammals are warm blooded.

• They give birth to live young.

• They breathe air.

• There are lots of mammals which live in the sea, including whales and otters.

Try another creature

The animal is a penguin

• Penguins are birds.

• All birds have feathers and a beak.

• They lay eggs.

• All birds have wings but not all of them can fly. The penguin uses its wings to help it swim.

Try another creature

Picture credit Sam Segar

KeysYou can use keys to help find out the group and characteristics of an animal.

When you are using a key you should answer the questions from top to bottom.

Answer all the questions until you get to the name of an animal.

You could also work backwards to find out the key characteristics of an animal.

Photo credit Sue Pizarro

The otterThe animal described was an otter. Here is what an otter looks like.