Brief Notes on Kingdom Animalia

The Animalia Kingdom is a diverse group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms and is heterotrophic. As a result, they get their nutrition from outside sources. Animal membranes lack a cell wall, which is readily available to plant cells, even though they cannot produce food on their own for themselves, which is among the major distinguishing features of plants. Animals are usually multicellular eukaryotes that belong to the Kingdom Animalia of life.

Classification of Kingdom Animalia

Classification of Kingdom Animalia can be done into two groups: vertebrates and invertebrates.

Vertebrates are all animals classified in the Vertebrata subphylum. They are members of the phylum Chordata and have a backbone or vertebrae. This is the location of the spinal cord. They also have an inner skeletal system to which the muscles are joined. 

Vertebrate animals are divided into seven major groups in Kingdom Animalia, which are as follows:

1. Mammalia: The variety of animals have epidermal hair, and females bear children and suckle their young. Duck-billed and spiny anteaters, on the other hand, lay eggs.
2. Birds: These animals have wings, talons, and a beak. Reproduction entails laying eggs, which range in size based on the species of bird. Birds include the kiwi, ostrich, chicken, woodpecker, et cetera. Some birds have feathers, but they are unable to fly. However, some animals, such as bats, have feathers but are still classified as mammals. As a result, not all flying animals can be categorised as birds.
3. Reptilia: Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with four legs and distinguished by a tail and dermal scales. Most species’ eggs are fertilised internally, resulting in the organism’s direct development. Snakes, Turtles, and crocodiles are Animalia Kingdom examples of reptiles.
4. Amphibians are cold-blooded creatures that spend a portion of their lifetimes in water. While some species can soak up oxygen via their skin, mostly in moist environments, others have gills that allow them to inhale water. On land, they could also breathe through their lungs. Frogs and salamanders, for example, lay eggs in moist conditions or water.
5. Agnatha: This category contains fish-like animals with no jaws. Some species, such as Lampreys, have large heads and sensory receptors.
6. Osteichthyes: Osteichthyes are true fish, also known as bony fish. Even so, they are distinguished by bone tissue. Other features associated with such a group entail fused teeth, slightly curved fins, and even a skull. Ray-finned and Clownfish are among the members of this group.
7. Chondrichthyes: Chondrichthyes organisms have a cartilaginous skeletal structure and are thus known as cartilaginous fishes. While several species have already been recognised in freshwaters, most are found in the ocean.

While vertebrates are the kingdom’s only species, invertebrates are the kingdom’s remaining phyla. Invertebrates, as the name implies, lack a spine and internal skeletons. Some organisms have an external skeletal system, known as an exoskeleton, which provides structural support. Invertebrates account for more than 97 percent of all living creatures in the Kingdom Animalia.

Because invertebrates are such a large group, they are classified depending on many characteristics such as structure, symmetry, and life cycle, among others.

Some organisms have three body layers, whereas others have two layers. Invertebrates include insects, snails, sponges, and hydras, among others.

Level Of Organisation

While all animals in the Animalia Kingdom are multicellular, their cell organisation patterns vary. As a result, they are often classified according to the level of organisation of their cells. 

They are categorised into three levels in this section, which are as follows:

Cellular level – In this level of organisation, animal cells form loose aggregates. While these animals’ cells are specialised so that they can perform multiple roles, similar cells aren’t organised together just to form tissue. As a result, the carcasses of these life forms are loose aggregations of various types of cells. Whereas the cells in such organisms are not always organised into the tissue, it is important to note that most cells form layer upon layer and serve specific functions.

Tissue level of organisation – Organisms with these organisational levels have cells that undertake the same features and are arranged in tissue. The majority of these organisms’ bodies are made up of two main layers separated by a middle layer called mesogloea.

This organism is diploblastic and consists of an outermost surface widely recognised as the ectoderm, which forms the epidermis, and an inner layer recognised as the endoderm, which lines the body’s interior. The body also has an internal body cavity.

Conclusion

Many animal species are used by humans for food and materials such as wool and leather, as pets and also as working animals, including for transportation. Dogs and birds of prey were used in hunting, and many terrestrial and marine animals have been hunted for sport. Since antiquity, nonhuman animals have been depicted in art and are mentioned in folklore and religion.