BIO 102

Classification Features of Animals

Animals are classified according to morphological and developmental characteristics,

such as a body plan. With the exception of sponges, the animal body plan is
symmetrical. This means that their distribution of body parts is balanced along an axis.
Additional characteristics that contribute to animal classification include the number of
tissue layers formed during development, the presence or absence of an internal body
cavity, and other features of embryological development.

ART CONNECTION
Fig. 1: The phylogenetic tree of animals based on morphological, fossil, and genetic evidence.

CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS
The Animal Kingdom (Animalia) is broadly classified into two main groups: non-
chordates (lacking a notochord) and chordates (possessing a notochord), which are
further divided into various phyla based on characteristics like body symmetry, tissue
organization, and presence of a coelom.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Non-Chordates (Phyla without a Notochord):

Porifera (Sponges):

Phylum Porifera (Sponges)

– Simplest and most primitive animals
- Lack tissues and organs
- Filter feeders
- Have a porous body with numerous openings called ostia
- Sessile, attached to a substrate
- Possess a canal system for water circulation.

Phylum Cnidaria (Coelenterata) (Jellyfish, Corals, Anemones)

- Radial symmetry
- Diploblastic (two germ layers)
- Possess specialized cells called cnidocytes that contain stinging structures called
nematocysts
- Have a gastrovascular cavity with a single opening (mouth/anus)

Platyhelminthes (Flatworms):

- Bilaterally symmetrical
- Triploblastic (three germ layers)
- Some are free-living, while others are parasitic
- Lack a body cavity (acoelomate)
- Some are hermaphroditic
- They are animals with a simple digestive system; examples include tapeworms and
planarians.

Nematoda (Roundworms):

- Bilateral symmetry
- Triploblastic
- Pseudocoelomate (body cavity not completely lined with mesoderm)
- Many are parasites
 - Complete digestive system
- Cylindrical, unsegmented worms; examples include hookworms and pinworms.

Annelida (Segmented Worms):

- Bilateral symmetry
- Triploblastic
- Coelomate (body cavity completely lined with mesoderm)
- Segmented body with repeated units called segments
- Well-developed circulatory and nervous systems
- Examples include earthworms and leeches.

Arthropoda:

Largest phylum, characterized by:

- Bilateral symmetry
- Triploblastic
- Coelomate
- Exoskeleton made of chitin
- Jointed appendages
- Examples include insects, spiders, and crustaceans.

Mollusca:

- Bilateral symmetry
- Triploblastic
- Coelomate
- Soft-bodied animals with a muscular foot, visceral mass, and mantle
- Some have a protective shell
- Examples include snails, clams, and octopuses.

Echinodermata:

Spiny-skinned animals with radial symmetry (as adults) and a water vascular system,
examples include starfish and sea urchins.

2. Chordates (Phyla with a Notochord):

Hemichordata:

These are animals that have a notochord in their larval stage, examples include acorn
worms.

Chordata:
Animals with a notochord (or a vertebral column in vertebrates), a dorsal nerve cord,
and pharyngeal slits, examples include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Vertebrates: Animals with a backbone (vertebral column), further divided into:

Fish: Aquatic vertebrates with gills and fins.

Amphibians: Aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates with smooth, moist skin.

Reptiles: Terrestrial vertebrates with scaly skin.
Birds: Vertebrates with feathers and wings.
Mammals: Vertebrates with mammary glands for milk production.

General features of the animal kingdom:

1. Eukaryotic and Multicellular:

 Animals are eukaryotic, meaning their cells have a nucleus and other membrane-
bound organelles.
 They are multicellular, composed of many cells that work together.

2. Heterotrophic Nutrition:

 Animals are heterotrophic, meaning they cannot produce their own food and
must obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms.
 They ingest food and digest it internally.

3. Lack of Cell Walls:

 Animal cells do not have rigid cell walls like plant cells.
Instead, their cells are often embedded in an extracellular matrix.

4. Sexual Reproduction (with some exceptions):

 Most animals reproduce sexually, involving the fusion of gametes (sperm and
egg).
 Asexual reproduction also occurs in some lower forms.

5. Complex Tissue Structure:

 Animals possess complex tissue structures, with specialized cells grouped

 together to form tissues with specific functions.

Examples include muscle tissue for movement, nerve tissue for coordination, and
connective tissue for support.

6. Motility (at least during some life stages):

 Most animals are motile, meaning they have the ability to move from one place to
another.

This movement is facilitated by specialized muscle tissues.

7. Sensory Organs and Nervous System:

 Animals have sensory organs and a nervous system that allows them to detect
and respond to stimuli in their environment.
 The nervous system coordinates the body's functions, including movement,
digestion, and reproduction.

8. Embryonic Development:

 Animals undergo embryonic development, where a fertilized egg (zygote)

develops into a multicellular embryo.
 This development involves cell division, differentiation, and morphogenesis,
leading to the formation of a complex body plan.

Phylum Chordata (Vertebrates)

- Bilateral symmetry
- Triploblastic
- Coelomate
- Possess a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail at
some stage of their development
- Divided into subphyla: Urochordata (tunicates), Cephalochordata (lancelets), and
Vertebrata (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals)

Key Comparisons:
- Body Symmetry: Animals can have radial or bilateral symmetry, which affects their
overall body plan and organization.

- Germ Layers: Animals are classified as diploblastic (two germ layers) or triploblastic
(three germ layers), which influences the complexity of their body structures and
systems.

- Body Cavity: Animals can be acoelomate (lack a body cavity), pseudocoelomate (body
cavity not completely lined with mesoderm), or coelomate (body cavity completely

SIMILARITIES

Animals share common features like being multicellular, eukaryotic, and heterotrophic,
but exhibit diverse external features, including varying body plans, symmetry (bilateral,
radial, or asymmetrical), and germ layers (diploblastic or triploblastic).
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Multicellularity: All animals are composed of multiple cells, unlike single-celled

organisms like bacteria or protists.

Eukaryotic: Animal cells have a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles,

distinguishing them from prokaryotic cells (like bacteria).

Heterotrophic: Animals obtain their nutrients by consuming other organisms (plants,

animals, or both), unlike plants that produce their own food through photosynthesis.
Complex Tissue Structure: Animals possess specialized tissues (e.g., nervous, muscle,
connective) that perform specific functions.
Motility: Most animals are capable of movement, at least during some life stages.
Sexual Reproduction: Most animals reproduce sexually, leading to a diverse range of
offspring.

Differences:

Body Plan:

Symmetry:

symmetrical: Lack of symmetry, like sponges.

Radial: Symmetry around a central point, like jellyfish and starfish.

Bilateral: Symmetry along a central axis, with a distinct head and tail, like most
animals.
Germ Layers:
Diploblastic: Animals with two germ layers (ectoderm and endoderm), like cnidarians
(jellyfish).

Triploblastic: Animals with three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm),
including most animals.

Coelom:

Acoelomate: Animals without a true body cavity (coelom).

Pseudocoelomate: Animals with a false body cavity (pseudocoelom).

Eucoelomate: Animals with a true body cavity (coelom
Segmentation:
Some animals have a segmented body plan (e.g., annelids, arthropods).
External Structures:

Body Coverings: Vary greatly, including skin, scales, feathers, fur, shells, or
exoskeletons.

Appendages: Limbs, fins, tentacles, or other appendages for locomotion or feeding.

Sensory Organs: Eyes, ears, antennae, and other sensory organs for detecting the
environment.