Point to Remember

Basis of Classification :
Animals are classified on the basis of following few fundamental features—
1. Levels of Organisation :
(1) Cellular level : Cells are arranged as loose cell aggregates, e.g.,sponges.
(2) Tissue level : The cells performing the same function are arranged into
tissues, e.g., Coelenterates.
(3) Organ level : Tissues are grouped together to form organs, each
specialised for a particular function. e.g., platyhelminthes.
(4) Organ system level : organs are associated to form functional systems
e.g., Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs, Echinoderms and Chordates.
Example : Circulatory System.
Open type : Blood pumped out through heart. Not confined to blood vessels.
Cells and tissues are directly bathed in it.
Closed types : Blood is circulated through blood vessels (arteries,veins and
capillaries)
2. Symmetry :
 Asymmetrical : Cannot be divided into equal halves through median plane

e.g., Sponges.
 Radial symmetry : Any plane passing through central axis can divide organism

into identical halves. e.g., coelentrates,Ctenophores and echinoderms.

 Bilateral symmetry : Only one plane can divide the organism into two identical

left and right halves e.g., Annelids and Arthropods.

3. Germinal Layers :
Diploblastic : Cells arranged in two embryonic layers i.e., external ectoderm
and internal endoderm. (Mesoglea may be present in between ectoderm and
endoderm) e.g., porifers and Coelentrates. (Cnidarians)
Triploblastic : Three layers present in developing embryo i.e., ectoderm,
mesoderm and endoderm. e.g., Platyhelminthes to Chordates.

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 4. Coelom (Body cavity which is lined by mesoderm)
Coelomates : Have coelom e.g., Annelids, Arthropods, molluscs, Echinoderms,

Chordates etc.
Pseudocoelomates : No true coelem as mesoderm is present in scattered

pouches between ectoderm and endoderm. e.,g., Aschelminthes.
Acoelomates : Body cavity is absent e.g., Platyhelminthes.

5. Segmentation (A) True Metamerism : Found Annelida,Arthropoda,
Chordata :
 Segmentation is external as well as a internal in Annelids.

 Segmentation is external in Arthropods.

 Segmentation is internal in chordates.

 Metamerism : If body is externally and internally divided into segments

(metameres) with serial repetition of atleast some organs, then phenomenon is
called metamerism e.g., Earthworm. (B) Pseudometamerism : Found in
tapeworm. The proglottids (segments of tapeworm) budded off from neck
not embryonic in origin.
6. Notochord :

 Rod-like structure formed during embryonic development on t he dorsal side.

It is mesodermally derived e.g., Chordates.

 Non-chordates do not have notochord .e.g., porifera to echinoderms.

Phylum Porifera :
 Also called sponges.
 Are usually marine and asymmetrical.
 Have cellular level of organisation and diploblastic animals.
 Food gathering, respiratory exchange and removal of wastes occurs through
water canal system. Digestion intracellular.
 Ostia (minute pores on body), spongocoel (body cavity) and osculum help
in water transport. They are lined by choanocytes (collar cells).
 Body wall has skeleton of spicules or spongin fibres.
 Animals are hermaphrodite. Fertilisation internal. Development is indirect
(i.e., has a larval stage distinct from adult stage) e.g., Sycon, Euspongia.
Spongilla (Fresh water sponge)
Phylum Coelenterata :
 Also called Cnidarians.
 Are usually marine and radially symmetrical.
 Sessile or free swimming.

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  Have tissue level of organisation.
 Are diploblastic (with mesogloea)

 Capture of prey, anchorage and defence occurs through cnidoblasts/cnidocytes

(have stinging capsules nematocytes) present on tentacles.

 Digestion extracellular and intracellular.

 Have a central gastro-vascular cavity and an opening, hypostome.

 Body wall of some composed of calcium carbonate. e.g. corals.

 exhibit two body forms : polyp and medusa e.g., Hydra, Aurelia.

 Alternation of generation between body forms called metagenesis ocurs in

Obelia where :

Medusa Polyp. (Sessile and cylindrical)

(free swimming &
umbrella shaped)
 e.g., Physalia, Adamsia, Pennatula, Gorgonia,Meandrina.

Phylum Ctenophora :
 Also called as sea walnuts or comb jellies.
 Are exclusively marine, radially symmetrical.
 Have tissue level organisation, are diploblastic.
 Digestion both extra and intracellular.
 Body has eight external rows of ciliated comb plates for locomotion.
 Show Bioluminescence (Property of living organisms to emit light).
 Hermaphrodite (sexes are not separate).
 Only sexual reproduction occurs. Exernal fertilization. Indirect development.
e.g., Ctenoplana, Pleurobrachia.
Phylum Plathyhelminthes :
 Also called as ‘flat worms’.
 Have dorsoventrally flattened body. Are mostly endoparasites in animals.
 Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, acoelomate,with organ level of
orgnisation.
 Absorb nutrients through body surface.
 Parasitic forms have hooks and suckers.
 ‘Flame cells’ help in osmoregulation and excretion.

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  Sexes not separate.
 Fertilisation internal. Many larval stages present. Planaria has high
regeneration capacity. e.g., Taenia, Fasciola.
Phylum Aschelminthes :
 Also called ‘round worms’.
 May be free living, parasitic, aquatic or terrestrial.
 Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, pseudocoelomate.
 Alimentary canal complete (has muscular pharynx), wastes removed through
excretory pore.
 Sexes separate. (dioecious)
 Females longer than males.
 Fertilisation internal. Development direct or indirect. e.g., Ascaris,Wuchereria,
Ancylostoma.
Phyum Annelida :
 Are aquatic or terrestrial, free-living or parasitic.
 Are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, organ-system level of organisation
and metamerically segmented body.
 Are coelomate animals.
 Have longitudinal and circular muscles for locomation.
 Have closed circulatory system.
 Nereis (dioecious and aquatic annelid) has lateral appendages called parapodia
for swimming.
 Have nephridia for osmoregulation and excretion.
 Neural system consists of paired gangila connected by lateral nerves to a
double ventral nerve cord.
 Reproduction is sexual.
 e.g., Earthworm (Pheretima) and Leech (Hirudinaria) which are hermaph
rodites (i.e., monoecious).
Phylum Arthropoda :
 Largest phylum of Animalia.
 Are bilaterally symmetrical, triplobastic, segmented externally and organ
system level of organisation, coelomate.
 Body divisible into head, thorax, abdomen and has a chitinous exoskeleton.
Jointed appendages are present.

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  Respiration by gills, book gills, book lungs or tracheal system. Excretion
through malpighian tubules.
 Sensory organs : Antennae, eyes; Organs of balance : Statocysts.

 Fertilisation usaully internal. Development is indirect or direct. Are mostly

oviparous.
e.g., Apis, Bombyx, Laccifer, Anopheles, Culex, Aedes, Locusta, Limulus.

Phulum Mollusca :
 Second largest phylum of Animalia.
 Terrestrial or aquatic

 Are bilaterally symmetrical, triplobastic and organ system level of organisation,

coelomate.
 Body vidisble into head, muscular foot and visceral hump and is covered

by calcareous shell and is unsegmented.

 Mantle : Soft and spongy layer of skin; Mantle cavity : Space between

visceral hump and mantle.

 Respiration and excretion by feather like gills in mantle cavity.

 Head has sensory tentacles. Radula a rasping organ for feeding in mouth.

 Are oviparous, dioecious, have indirect development.

e.g., Plia, Pinctada, Octopus, Sepia, Loligo, Aplysia, Dentalium, Chaetopleura.

Phylum Echinodermata :
 Are spiny bodied organisms with endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles.
 Are exclusively marine, radially symmetrical in adult but bilaterally
symmetrical in larval stage. Organ system level of organisation.
 Triploblastic and coelomate.
 Digestive system complete. Mouth ventral, Anus on dorsal side.
 Food gathering, respiration, locomotion carried out by water vascular system.
 Excretory system is absent.
 Reproduction–sexual, sexes are separate.
 Fertilisation external. Development indirect (free swimming larva)
 e.g., Asterias, Cucumaria, Antedon, Echinus, ophiura.
Phyum Hemichordata :
 Represents small group of worm-like organisms.
 Was earlier placed as sub-phylum of Phyum Chordata.

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  Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and coelomate with organ system level
of organisation.
 Body cylindrical, has proboscis, collar and trunk.

 Circulatory System–open.

 Respiration by gills, excretion by proboscis gland.

 Sexes separate, external fertiliastion, indrect development.

e.g, Balanoglossus, saccoglossus.

Phylum Chordata :

 Presence of Notochord.

 Have dorsal hollow nerve chord.

 Have paired pharyngeal gill slits.

 Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate, organ system level of
organisation.

 Heart is ventral.

 Post anal tail present, closed circulatory system.
(i) Sub-Phyla Urochordata /Tunicata
 Notocohord present only in larval tail.
e.g., Ascidia, Salpa, Doliolum
(ii) Sub-phyla Cephalochordata
 Notochord extends from head to tail (Persistent)
e.g., Amphioxus.
(iii) Sub-Phyla Vertebrata
Have notochord only during embryonic period.


 Notochord gets replaced by bony or cartilaginous vertebral column.

 Have ventral muscular heart, kidneys for excretion and osmoregulation, paired
appendages (fins or limbs)
Vertebrata have two Division :
(a) Agnatha (Lacks Jaw) : Class : Cyclostomata
 Live as ectoparasites on some fishes.

 Have sucking and circular mouth without jaws.

 Have 6-15 paris of gill slits for respiration.

 No scales, no paired fins.

 Cranium and vertebral column is cartilagenous.

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  Marine, Migrate to fresh water for spawning and die after spawning.

 Larva returns to ocean after metamorphosis.

e.g., Petromyzon, Myxine

(b) Gnathostomata (Bear Jaws)–divides into two super classes :
Super-class : Pisces
1. Class : Chondrichthyes :

 Have cartilagenous endoskeleton, are marine with streamlined body.

 Mouth ventral.

 Gill slits without operculum (gill cover).

 Skin has placoid scales; jaws–very powerful.

 No air bladder, so swim constantly to avoid sinking.

 Teeth are backwardly directed, modified placoid scales.

 Notochord is persistent throughout life.

 Two chambered heart; poikilotherms (cold-blooded)

 Sexes separate; males have claspers on pelvic fins.

 Internal fertilisation; viviparous.

e.g., Tarpedo, Trygon, Scoliodon, Pristis, Carcharodon
2. Class : Osteichthyes
 Have bony endoskeleton, Aquatic

 Mouth is usually terminal. Body-Streamlined

 Four pairs of gill slits covered by operculum, heart two chambered, cold

blooded.
 Sking has cycloid/ctenoid scales.

 Have air bladder which regulates buoyancy.

 Sexes separate.

 Usually oviparous, fertilisation external.

 Development direct.

 e.g., Hippocampus, Labeo, Catia, Betla, Clarias, Exocoetus

Sub-Phylum Vertebrata : Gnathostomata

Super Class : Tetrapoda
1. Class : Amphibia
 Can live in aquatic as well as terrestrial habitats.

 Body divisible into head and trunk, paired limbs.

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 Skin moist. No scales.

 Tympanum represents ear. Eyes have eyelids.

 Cloaca is the common chamber where alimentary canal, urinary and

reproductive tracts open.
 Respiration by gills, lungs or skin.

 Heart is 3-chambered; cold-blooded; Sexes separate; fertilisation external.

 Oviparous. Indirect development.

 e.g., Bufo, Rana, Hyla, Salamandra, Ichthyophis

2. Class : Reptilla
 Creep or crawl to locomote. Mostly terrestrial.

 Body has dry and cornified skin and epideremal scales or scutes.


 Tympanum represents ear.

 Limbs, when present, are two pairs

 Snakes and lizards shed, scales as skin cast.

 Heart 3-chambered but 4-chambered in crocodiles.

 Sexes Separate; fertilisation internal.

 Oviparous. Direct development.

 e.g., Testudo, Naja, Vipera, Calotes, Crocodilus, Hemidactylus

3. Class : Aves
 Presence of feathers except flightless birds and beak (modified jaws)

without teeth.
 Forelimbs are modified into wings.

 Hind limbs have scales, modified for walking, swimmng or clasping.

 Skin is dry as no glands on skin except oil gland at base of tail.

 Endoskeleton bony with air cavities (pneumatic) and hollow bones to

assist in flight.
 Crop and Gizzard—Additional chamber in digestive tract.

 Air sacs are connected to lungs to supplement respiration.

 Warm blooded (homoiothermous), Heart–Four chambered.

 Sexes separate, fertilization internal

 Oviparous. Direct development.

 e.g., Columba, Struthio, Pavo, Corvus, Neophron, Pstittacula Aptenodytes.

4. Class : Mammalia
 Have mammary glands to nourish young ones.

 Have two pairs of limbs, adapted to perform special work.

 Skin has hairs.
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 External ears or, pinna present.

 Different types of teeth in jaw.

 Homoiothermous; Heart–Four chambered, Lungs for respiration.

 Sexes are separate, fertilisation internal.

 Viviparous. Direct development.

 e.g., Rattus, Canis, Elephas, Equus. Oviparous mammal is
Ornithorhynchus.

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