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