Animal

:For the Muppet Show character, see Animal (Muppet). For the professional wrestler, see Joseph Laurinaitis.

Related Topics:
Muppet Show - Animal (Muppet) - Professional wrestler - Joseph Laurinaitis

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Porifera (sponges)

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Ctenophora (comb jellies)

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Cnidaria

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Placozoa

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Subregnum Bilateria

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 Acoelomorpha

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 Orthonectida

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 Rhombozoa

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 Myxozoa

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 Superphylum Deuterostomia

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    Chordata (vertebrates, etc.)

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    Hemichordata (acorn worms)

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    Echinodermata

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    Chaetognatha (arrow worms)

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 Superphylum Ecdysozoa

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    Kinorhyncha

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    Loricifera

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    Priapulida

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    Nematoda (roundworms)

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    Nematomorpha (horsehair worms)

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    Onychophora (velvet worms)

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    Tardigrada (water bears)

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    Arthropoda (insects, etc.)

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 Superphylum Platyzoa

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    Platyhelminthes (flatworms)

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    Gastrotricha

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    Rotifera (rotifers)

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    Acanthocephala

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    Gnathostomulida (jaw worms)

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    Micrognathozoa

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    Cycliophora

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 Superphylum Lophotrochozoa

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    Sipuncula (peanut worms)

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    Nemertea (ribbon worms)

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    Phoronida

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    Ectoprocta (moss animals)

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    Entoprocta

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    Brachiopoda

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    Mollusca (mollusks)

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    Annelida (segmented worms)

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Animals are a major group of organisms, classified as the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. In general they are multicellular, capable of locomotion and responsive to their environment, and feed by consuming other organisms. Their body plan becomes fixed as they develop, usually early on in their development as embryos, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on. Human beings are classified as members of the animal kingdom.

Related Topics:
Organism - Kingdom - Multicellular - Development - Embryo - Metamorphosis - Human

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Kingdom Animalia has several characteristics that set it apart from other living things. First, animals are eukaryotic. This separates them from the Kingdom Monera. Second, animals are multicellular, which separates them from Kingdom Protista. Third, they are heterotrophic, setting them apart from Kingdom Plantae and several plant-like protists. Finally, Kingdom Animalia consists of organisms without cell walls, which makes it unique compared to Kingdom Plantae, algae, and Kingdom Fungi.

Related Topics:
Eukaryotic - Kingdom Monera - Multicellular - Kingdom Protista - Heterotrophic - Kingdom Plantae - Protists - Cell walls - Algae - Kingdom Fungi

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Aristotle divided the living world between animals and plants, and this was followed by Carolus Linnaeus in the first hierarchial classification. Since then biologists have begun emphasizing evolutionary relationships, and so these groups have been restricted somewhat. For instance, microscopic protozoa were originally considered animals because they move, but are now treated separately. Colloquially, and in some religions, humans are considered separate from animals (on account of their unique abilities of speech and advanced thought or the view that they are the chosen representatives of a deity), but they belong together by current biological and taxonomical standards. The name animal comes from the Latin word animal, of which animalia is the plural, and ultimately from anima, meaning vital breath or soul.

Related Topics:
Aristotle - Plant - Carolus Linnaeus - Protozoa - Religion - Human - Speech - Thought - Taxonomical - Latin

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