The scientific name of Animals is “Animalia”. The

animal kingdom is also called as “ Metazoa” or

“fauna”.

The features that forms basis for animal

classification are

Arrangement of cells,

Body symmetry,

Nature of coelom,

Patterns of digestive, circulatory and reproductive

systems,

Arrangement of cells in germ layers,

Segmentation and

Notochord.

Classification of Animal Kingdom:-

The Animal kingdom is classified in to two types

Vertebrates &

Invertebrates

Vertebrates:-

The vertebrates are those which have a backbone

that supports the locomotion of the organisms.

Eg:- Fishes, birds, frogs, snakes and mammals

Invertebrates:-

The Invertebrate animals are those which do not

have any backbone.

Eg:- Sponges, star fish, obelia, worms, spiders,

insects

Phylums:-

Both invertebrate and vertebrates are divided into

smaller groups called phylum depending on the

similarities.

Protozoa:-

The “Protozoa” are the unicellular & eukaryotic

organisms that have only one cell. The protozoa were

defined as single-celled organisms with animal-like

behaviors, such as motility and predation.

Eg:- Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma gondii,

Pneumocystis carinii, Acanthamoeba, Giardia

lamblia & Naegleria

Metazoa:-

The Metazoa are the multicellular & eukaryotic

organisms that are have multiple cell. The animal

kingdom are generally termed as “Metazoa”.

The categories in the hierarchical system are from

higher and most inclusive to lower to more specific

are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and

species.

Kingdom is the highest primary division in which all

objects are placed. All animals are part of the Animal

Kingdom.

Phylum - Each kingdom is divided into smaller units

called phyla. Example, chordates are a phylum with

members possessing the nerve cord.

Class - The chordates are further divided into classes

such as Mammalia, Birds, Reptilia, Amphibians.

Members of each class have a characteristics that

they share with the members of the same class but

are not found in members of other classes.

Family - Classes are further divided into families.

Families contain more than one genus.

Genus - Families are sub-divided into genera.

Animals that share the same genus are very similar

and probably evolved from the same common

ancestor.

Species - Species is the most fundamental and

contains single type of animal.