IJBI 2 (2), (DECEMBER 2020) 149-154

International Journal of Biological Innovations

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DOI:https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2020.2211

Review Article E-ISSN: 2582-1032

STATUS OF ANIMAL PHYLA IN DIFFERENT KINGDOM

SYSTEMS OF BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

Ashok Kumar Verma1 and Sadguru Prakash2*

1
Department of Zoology, Govt. P. G. College Saidabad, Prayagraj (U.P.), India
2
Department of Zoology, M. L. K. P. G. College, Balrampur (U.P.), India
*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Received: 10.07.2020 Accepted: 02.08.2020 Published: 04. 08. 2020

Abstract: Biological classification is the scientific procedure of arranging the organisms in a

hierarchical series of groups and sub-groups on the basis of their similarities and dissimilarities.
Many biologists have contributed to this method of classification, which took years for researchers
to decide the most fundamental characteristics for the classification. The history of kingdom system
in classification is started with Linnaeus (1735), who laid the foundation of modern biological
classification by classifying the organisms into two kingdoms namely Plantae and Animalia. The
two kingdom system was followed by three, four, five and six kingdom systems respectively. In
present discussion, authors tried to discuss the current status of different animal phyla with respect
to different kingdom systems.

Keywords: Animal phyla, Five kingdom system, Taxonomy, Three domain system.

INTRODUCTION and orderly grouping (classification) of

The living organisms are quite enormous in organisms on the basis of their relationships. The
number with great diversity among them in this term 'systematics' is derived from a Latin word
universe. They may be alike in their general 'Systema', which means systematic arrangement
appearance but differ in detailed characteristics of organisms. The Systematics includes
because of specialization. The classification and evolutionary relationships among the organisms
study of these organisms on the basis of their while 'Taxonomy' is basically the process of
similarities and dissimilarities are concerned classification of all living organisms based on
with taxonomy. different characteristics. Mayr (1978) described
the principles of systematics in detail.
‘Systematics' branch of Biology deals with the
study of identification, naming (nomenclature) Aristotle (384-322 BC), Father of Biology, Father

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150 International Journal of Biological Innovations 2 (2), (DECEMBER 2020)

of Zoology and Founder of Taxonomy, was A comparative historical account of these

pioneer in the field of biological classification. He different kingdom systems is given by Verma
wrote probably the first book on Zoology 'Historia (2017a).
Animalium'. Aristotle (c. 350 BC) classified the
animals into two main groups namely (a) FIVE KINGDOM SYSTEM
Anhaima: animals without red blood and (b) American Ecologist Whittaker (1969) proposed
Enhaima: animals with red blood. In modern the five kingdom system of classification. In his
taxonomy, former is referred to as invertebrates 'Five Kingdom System', he added three more
and latter vertebrates. kingdoms in Linnean model of two kingdom
system. These were: Monera, Protista and Fungi.
A Swedish Naturalist Karl Von Linne/Carolus Whittaker succeeded to overcome the difficulties
Linnaeus (1758), for the first time classified the as well as demerits of two, three and four
living organisms in a systematic way, introduced kingdom systems and to represent the living
the hierarchic system both in plants and animals. organisms according to the evolutionary
He laid the foundation of modern biological relationship among themselves. He also defined
classification by classifying the organisms into the kingdoms by a number of special
two kingdoms namely Plantae and Animalia. His characteristics such as whether the organisms
classification is now popularly known as Two possessed a true nucleus or not. Whittaker's five
Kingdom System. He also propagated 'Binomial kingdom system of classification is based on (a)
Nomenclature' for all the species of organisms in mode of nutrition (b) cell structure and
10th edition of his book 'Systema Naturae' complexity (c) phylogenetic relationship (d) body
published in 1758. This book is now known as organization and (e) reproduction.
dictionary of classification and Linnaeus as
In five kingdom system of Whittaker, different
father of binomial nomenclature and founder of
kingdoms are as following:
modern taxonomy.
1. Monera : Prokaryotes e.g. bacteria and
The Kingdom Plantae (Plant Kingdom) included cyanobacteria.
chlorophyll containing green plants, mosses, 2. Protista : Unicellular eukaryotes e.g.
ferns, many colourless and coloured unicellular unicellular algae, diatoms and
organisms, moulds, fungi, lichens, bacteria and protozoans.
multicellular seaweeds while Kingdom Animalia
(Animal Kingdom) included many other 3. Fungi : Multicellular decomposers e.g.
unicellular protozoans and multicellular fungi and moulds.
organisms without having chlorophyll and 4. Plantae : Multicellular producers, e.g.
photosynthetic ability. The two kingdom system plants.
of classification of Linnaeus was not found 5. Animalia : Multicellular consumers, e.g.
suitable due to huge diversity among the animals.
organisms and many other limitations. Raven and
Johnson (1996) have discussed a brief account of Since, Monera are prokaryotic and virtually
diversity, evolution, taxonomy and various unicellular, they differ from the other four
kingdoms in classification. eukaryotic kingdoms. The eukaryotic unicellular
organisms were kept into the Kingdom Protista.
A German Biologist Haeckel (1866) proposed a The unicellular organisms show several types of
third kingdom, the Protista, for unicellular modes of nutrition. The three multicellular
eukaryotes such as protozoans. He revised the eukaryotic kingdoms distinguish themselves by
content of this kingdom a number of times the general manner in which they acquire food.
(Scamardella, 1999). An American Biologist Fungi are heterotrophs, generally break down
Copeland (1956) established the fourth kingdom large organic molecules in their environment by
Monera to include bacteria and blue green algae. secreting enzymes. Plants are autotrophs and use

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Ashok Kumar Verma and Sadguru Prakash 151

photosynthetic systems to capture energy from microscopic and unicellular with a relatively
sunlight. Animals are heterotrophs and acquire complex internal structure and carry out complex
nutrients by ingesting plants or other animals and metabolic activities. As per classification of
then digesting those materials. The five kingdom Linnaeus, when there were only two kingdoms
system despite of having some demerits (Verma, namely Plantae and Animalia then Protozoa was
2016a), is still widely accepted. the first phylum under Kingdom Animalia. With
the gradual enhancement in understanding and
SIX KINGDOM SYSTEM advancement in biological researches, evolution
With the advancement in biological researches, of three, four, five and six kingdom systems
profound knowledge of microbial diversity and occurred. As a result of these advancements,
DNA sequencing resulted in elaboration of five phylum Protozoa is separated from Kingdom
kingdom system into six kingdom system. An Animalia and included as a part of Kingdom
American Microbiologist, Woese et al., (1990) Protista (Verma, 2017b).
adopted the term 'domain' in 1990 and introduced
three-domain system in biological classification Thus, initially protozoans were kept in phylum
mainly on the basis of 16 S rRNA genes. They Protozoa under Kingdom Animalia as per
defined the Archea by studying 16 S ribosomal classification of Linnaeus but later placed under
RNA in phylogenetic taxonomy. This system adds Kingdom Protista. All the three, four, five and six
'domain' as a 'superkingdom' a level of kingdom systems retained the Protozoa under
classification “above” the kingdom. separate Kingdom Protista. Although the
inclusion of Protozoa under Kingdom Protista
The three domains are: Archaea, Bacteria and seems a better choice but there is improper
Eukarya (Eucarya). The domain Archaea includes grouping of Kingdom Protista, as it includes
only one kingdom Archaebacteria (ancient organisms with diverse form, structure and life
bacteria), domain Bacteria also includes only one
cycle, therefore it needs to be improved.
kingdom Eubacteria (true bacteria) whereas
Inclusion of dinoflagellates under Protista is not
domain Eukarya includes remaining four
logical, as they are not eukaryotic but rather are
kingdoms namely Protista, Fungi, Plantae and
mesokaryotic. Similarly, slime moulds placed
Animalia. The Archaea and Bacteria domains
contain prokaryotic organisms that do not have a under Protista differ considerably from the rest of
membrane bound nucleus while the Eukarya protists.
domain includes eukaryotic organisms that have
The separation of protozoa from kingdom
a membrane bound nucleus. Thus, in this
Animalia and inclusion under Kingdom Protista is
classification system, Woese et al., (1990) placed
all four eukaryotic kingdoms into a single domain continuously maintained from three to five
called Eukarya (eukaryotes). They then split the kingdom systems and even in six kingdom system
former kingdom of Monera into the Archaea also. Whittaker's five kingdom system, despite of
(archaebacteria) and the Bacteria (eubacteria) having several demerits (Verma, 2016a), has been
domains. They appropriately placed most of the widely accepted by the biologists since its
'unusual' prokaryotes in the Archaea, leaving inception.
traditional bacteria in the Eubacteria. This is
consistent with recent discoveries of more POSITION OF PORIFERA TO CHORDATA
Since the first phylum Protozoa became a part of
diversity among microbes than animals and
plants that makes this system relevant (Verma, Kingdom Protista hence phylum Porifera is now
2016b). A comparison between the five and six the first phylum of Animal kingdom as per
kingdom systems is given by Verma (2017a). pattern from three to six kingdom system. Now
the series of phyla commonly in practice is as:
POSITION OF PROTOZOA Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyheminthes,
Protozoans are single celled organisms found Aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda,
worldwide in most of the habitats. Most species Mollusca, Echinodermata, Hemichordata and
are free living, but some are parasitic. These are Chordata. Now all the phyla except protozoa are

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152 International Journal of Biological Innovations 2 (2), (DECEMBER 2020)

kept in Kingdom Animalia from three to six The Chordata is divided into Lower Chordata and
kingdom systems. Higher Chordata. The Higher Chordata is
represented by a single subphylum Vertebrata in
Phylum Porifera includes multicellular, pore which notochord is replaced by vertebral
bearer, aquatic and sessile animals with cellular column. The Vertebrates have ventral muscular
grade of organization. The phyla Cnidaria cardiac system bearing 2-4 chambers. A
(Coelenterata) and Ctenophora comprise vertebrate has notochord during its embryonic
diploblastic radiate animals with tissue grade of development which is replaced by a cartilaginous
organization and gastrovascular cavity. Former is or bony vertebral column called as backbone in
characterized by the presence of nematocysts adults. Taxonomically higher chordates belong to
while latter is without nematocysts but having a subphylum Vertebrata that includes seven
comb-like plates hence called comb jellies or sea classes of living animals viz. Cyclostomata,
walnuts. Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia,
Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia.
Phylum Platyhelminthes includes flatworms
having dorsoventrally flattened triploblastic Fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) are
body and organ grade of organization. True exclusively aquatic animals with streamlined
worms are included in phylum Aschelminthes. body. They have gills for respiration and lateral
They are pseudocoelomates with organ system line sense organs. Amphibians constitute a class
grade of body organization and unisexual. True of vertebrates that live on land but breed in water.
coelom (schizocoel) first appeared in phylum The class Amphibia comprises of three orders:
Annelida with vermiform and metamerically Apoda (Gymnophiona) that includes limbless
segmented body and closed circulatory system. amphibians such as ceacilians, Urodela
Arthropoda is the largest phylum that occupies (Caudata) that includes newts and salamanders
all the three types of habitats viz. air, water and and Anura (Salientia) that includes frogs and
land. They have jointed locomotory appendages toads. Fishes and amphibians collectively
and external metameric segmentation with thick constitute the anamniotes or so called lower
cuticle. Mollusca is the second largest phylum vertebrates whereas reptiles, birds and mammals
having soft bodied animals; body is divisible into are popularly known as higher vertebrates or so
head, mantle, foot and visceral mass. The called amniotes (Verma, 2020a, 2020b).
circulatory system is mostly open type both in
Arthropoda and Mollusca. On the basis of Fishes, amphibians and reptiles are cold blooded
embryonic development, Annelida, Arthropoda or poikilothermic animals. The reptiles were the
and Mollusca; all the three belong to Protostomia first exclusively terrestrial vertebrates with
group. crawling or creeping mode of locomotion.
Reptiles and birds both have monocondylic skull.
Echinodermata is the phylum of exclusively In general the class Reptilia includes four orders
marine animals having uncephalized body with of living animals viz. Chelonia (turtle and
no heart and without true respiratory, excretory tortoise), Rhynchocephalia (tuatara), Squamata
and nervous systems. Term echinodermata (lizards and snakes) and Crocodilia (crocodiles).
means spinny skinned animals. Phylum They are the first amniotes of the earth.
Hemichordata includes worm-like marine
animals and the body is divided into proboscis, Birds (Aves) also referred to as masters of air, are
collar and long trunk. Phylum Chordata is the homoiothermic or warm-blooded egg-laying
highly evolved group of Kingdom Animalia. Its vertebrates characterized by the presence of
three fundamental characters include dorsal feathers and modification of forelimbs as wings
tubular/hollow nerve cord, notochord and for flight. Jaw bones are prolonged into a toothless
pharyngeal gill slits. Last three phyla belong to beak to serve like hands and mouth concurrently.
Deuterostomia group with enterocoelic coelom. Mammals are warm-blooded i.e. homoiothermic

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Ashok Kumar Verma and Sadguru Prakash 153

vertebrates having a muscular diaphragm and the ethical, justified and appropriate from
skin is more or less covered with hair. They give evolutionary, microbial diversity and modern
birth to young ones (viviparous) except for the nucleic acid sequencing point of views.
small group of Monotremes (most primitive Biodiversity is the 'foundation of human life' on
mammals comprising the only extant members of earth and for human's survival and sustainable
Prototheria). The young ones are nourished with development; it must be maintained at any cost.
milk. Presence of mammary glands is the most As far as Kingdom Animalia is concerned, it is
unique feature of this group. The class Mammalia retained as such from two to six even seven and
includes egg laying mammals (Prototheria), eight kingdom systems except the phylum
pouched mammals (Metatheria) and higher Protozoa. Only Linnean model of classification
viviparous mammals (Eutheria). Both included the Protozoa as a phylum of Animal
amphibians and mammals have dicondylic skull. kingdom but all other models from three to six
kingdom systems recognizes protozoans as a part
NEW KINGDOM SYSTEM of Kingdom Protista. All other animal phyla
Cavalier-Smith (1981) proposed eight kingdom including Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora,
system and divided all organisms into eight Platyheminthes, Aschelminthes, Annelida,
kingdoms namely: Bacteria, Eufungi, Ciliofungi,
Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata,
Animalia, Biliphyta, Viridiplantae, Cryptophyta,
Hemichordata, Chordata etc. are included in
and Euglenozoa. Later, some protists were
Kingdom Animalia till date.
reported with no mitochondria (Cavalier-Smith,
1987). He revised this system particularly in the
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