Animal Kingdom Classification (Stage 6) PDF

STAGE 6 Unit focus: Classification Text focus: Information Text The Animal Kingdom The Animal Kingdom, or to give it its formal Latin name – Kingdom Animalia, is one of the five k...

STAGE 6 Unit focus: Classification Text focus: Information Text The Animal Kingdom The Animal Kingdom, or to give it its formal Latin name – Kingdom Animalia, is one of the five kingdoms of living things (the others being plants, fungi, protista and monera). Animals are multi- cellular organisms (unlike protista, monera and some fungi) and cannot make their own food. This distinguishes them from plants. Through microscopes, the cells of animals look different to other kingdoms of life because they do not have cell walls. The animal kingdom is the largest of the five kingdoms and contains a great many diverse species. These can be found in all corners of the globe and have evolved to survive in all kinds of environments. The animal kingdom is split into those species which have a backbone or spine (vertebrates) and those which do not (invertebrates). Invertebrates include such animals as sponges, worms, insects, molluscs and crustaceans. These very adaptable creatures can survive in some very hostile conditions and, as such, they make up around 97% of all animals. Over a million species of invertebrate have been discovered but scientists estimate that there are many millions more. On the other hand, only around 60,000 vertebrates have been discovered. Vertebrates are classified under the phylum ‘Chordata’ and include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. They are sorted into these classes according to: the way they breathe; their method for reproduction; their body temperature; and the surface of their bodies. Fish live in water and breathe through gills. They are covered in scales and are ectothermic meaning their temperature changes depending on their surroundings. Most fish lay unfertilised eggs with reproduction happening outside of their bodies. Many amphibians, including frogs and toads, live first as larvae and during this stage of their life cycle, they live entirely within water and breathe through gills like fish. Later, they develop into adults through a process called metamorphosis and move on to land. As adults, they have lungs but are also able to breathe and absorb water through their moist skin allowing them to hibernate under water without needing to return to the surface to breathe. Like fish, amphibians are ectothermic and reproduce externally. Reptiles, including snakes, turtles, lizards, crocodiles and the now-extinct dinosaurs, are ectothermic, scaly creatures that have lungs and breathe air. Reptiles reproduce internally all resources ©2022 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com meaning that eggs are fertilised inside the female. Most reptiles then lay eggs which then hatch outside the body. Birds are actually closely related to reptiles and have much in common with them including laying eggs and breathing air. However, they differ because they are covered in feathers and they are endothermic, meaning that they maintain a constant warm temperature no matter the external temperature. Most birds fly though there are many flightless species such as penguins and ostriches. Mammals are similar to birds in that they are endothermic and they breathe using lungs. They reproduce internally and give birth to live young rather than eggs. (Only very unusually, as in the case of platypus and echidnas, do mammals lay eggs.) Mammals are unique because they feed their young with milk produced by special glands within the mother. Though many mammals are covered in hair and live on land, some, like whales, are smooth-skinned and live in water. Some mammals, like bats are capable of flight. Of course, humans are mammals too and are classified under the order of primates and the family of great apes. SUMMARY FOCUS Body Breathing Skin Reproduction Other features temperature Ectothermic Fish Amphibians Reproduce Reptiles internally and then lay eggs. Have lungs and Birds breathe air Feed their young Mammals with milk. VIPERS QUESTIONS R How can animal cells be recognised? V What is meant by the phrase ‘hostile conditions’? R What are invertebrates? I What evidence is there to suggest that the animal kingdom is very successful? E Why do you think the writer mentions whales and bats when talking about mammals? all resources ©2022 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com