Animal Classification and Symmetry Quiz

Kingdom Animalia

• Divided into 3 subkingdoms: Protozoa, Parazoa, and Metazoa
• Protozoa: includes one-celled animals
• Parazoa: includes simple multicellular animals like sponges
• Metazoa: includes the rest of animals, more complex multicellular animals with complex organ systems

Symmetry in Animals

• Symmetric animals can be divided into two identical halves by a straight line
• Asymmetric animals cannot be divided into identical halves by a straight line
• Different types of symmetry exist: radial, spherical, and bilateral

Animal Taxonomy

• Animal Taxonomy: a branch of Zoology related to identifying, describing, naming, and classifying different animal species
• Aristotle classified animals based on:
  • Presence or absence of red blood (Enaima or Anaima)
  • Type of environment they live in (terrestrial, aquatic, aerial)
  • Type of food they eat (carnivorous, herbivorous, or carni-herbivorous)

John Ray

• Established the idea of classifying animals based on morphological characteristics
• Defined species as groups of animals that are morphologically similar and interbreed freely, but cannot interbreed with other groups, and if they do the offspring are sterile

Linnaeus

• Created a new classification system based on morphological and anatomical features
• Introduced binomial nomenclature (Genus and species) as a method for naming animals (written in italics or underlined)

Modern Systematic Zoology

• Animal classifications are not only based on morphological and anatomical characteristics, modern methods include biochemical, genetic, and physiological features

Animal Taxa

• Species: group of similar animals that can produce fertile offspring
• Genus: species grouped by similar characteristics.
• Family: genera that grouped by similar characteristics.
• Order: families with common features are grouped into one order
• Class: related orders with common features are grouped into one class.
• Phylum: related classes grouped into one phylum
• Kingdom: Related phyla are grouped into one kingdom

Trypanosoma gambiense

• A parasitic protozoan
• Causes African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
• Affects the human host by invading brain tissue, consuming excessive glucose, and producing toxins

Entamoeba histolytica

• Protozoan parasite
• Causes amoebiasis (often an intestinal disease)

Plasmodium spp.

• Contains several species that cause malaria

Sporongospora subterranea

• A parasite of plants

Plasmodiophora brassicae

• A parasite of plants

Test your knowledge on the classification of animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including their subkingdoms and types of symmetry. This quiz also covers the foundational principles of animal taxonomy as established by early scientists. Challenge yourself to understand how different species are categorized based on their characteristics.