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Lesson Note
Subject: Biology
Topic: Classification of Living Things
Sub topic: Kingdom Animalia
Lesson Objective: The aim of this lesson is to expose learners to knowledge of the various groups of organisms under the kingdom Animalia.
Lesson Discussion.
KINGDOM: ANIMALIA
The first eight phyla of the animal kingdom belongs to the sub-phylum invertebrates i.e they are animal without backbone and internal skeletons while the phylum cordata belongs to the phylum vertebrata i.e animals with backbone and internal skeletons.
1. Porifera
Charactersitics
i. They are simple aquatic invertebrates
ii. They do not move about but are attached to rocks or shells
iii. They live in colonies
iv. They are primitive multicellular animals
v. Examples of animal in this group is the sponges.
2. Coelenterata
Charactersitics
i. They are multicellular organisms
ii. They are mainly aquatic organism
iii. They have soft jelly-like bodies
iv. They have tentacles and stinging cells used for capturing their prey.
v. They reproduce asexually by budding.
vi. Examples are jelly-fish, Hydra, sea anemones and coral.
3. Platyhelminthes (flatworms)
Charactersitics
i. They are multicellular flat worms.
ii. They are bilaterally symmetrical
iii. They are mainly parasites in man and others in animals
iv. Most flat worms are hermaphrodites and reproduction asexually
v. Examples are tapeworms, liverflukes, planaria etc.
Kingdom Animalia: Image Credit: google.com
4. Nematodes (Roundworms)
Charactersitics
i. They have round and cylindrical bodies
ii. They lack body cavity i.e they have pseudo-coelom body cavity.
iii. Some are parasites in animals while others are free living
iv. Some are hermaphrodites while others reproduction sexually
v. Examples are roundworms, guineaworms, threadworms etc.
5. Annelida
Charactersitics
i. They have internal and external segmented bodies.
ii. Their body is long and cylindrical
iii. Some are aquatic while others are terrestial
iv. The alimentary canal has two openings – their mouth and the anus.
v. Annelida reproduction sexually and many are hermaphrodites.
vi. Examples are earthworms, leeches, etc
6. Mollusca
Charactersitics
i. They have soft unsegmented bodies.
ii. They have tentacles on their heads.
iii. They possess muscular foot adapted for crawling or burrowing
iv. The body is covered by a soft tissue called mantle.
v. Some have calcereous shells, e.g snails while others have no shells e g octopus
vi. Examples are squid, mussel, periwinkles etc
7. Arthropoda
Charactersitics
The Arthropoda is the largest Phylum in the animal kingdom. It is divided into the following classes:
a. Crostacea
b. Insects
c. Arachnida
d. Myriapoda
Charactersitics of Arthropoda
i. They have segmented bodies
ii. They have hard, rigid exoskeleton made of chitin
iii. They have joined appendages or jointed legs used for feeding, movement, reproduction or as a sensory organs.
iv. They exhibit moulting or ecdysis i.e they shed their exoskeleton at intervals to permit growth.
v. Their bodies are divided into two or three segments such as the head, thorax and abdomen which may be fused in some members.
vi. Their bodies are bilaterally symmetrical
vii. They are triploblastic i.e they have three body layers.
viii. Examples of the various classes are insecta e.g grasshopper, cockroach, housefly, butterfly ; Arachnida e.g spider, scorpion, mites; Crustaceans e.g crab, crayfish, shrimps, prawns, lobsters; Myriapoda e.g centipedes, millipedes.
Table 4: Structural Differences between Crustaceans, Insects and Arachnida
8. Echinodermata
Characteristics
i. Their bodies are radially symmetrical
ii. Echinoderms have spiny skin.
iii. They are mainly marine animals
iv. They are triploblastic
v. They have neither head nor brain and the body is not segmented.
vi. Examples are starfish, urchins, sea cucumbers and bristle star.
9. Chordata
The chordata has a sub-phylum called vertebrata. The vertebrates are characterised by the presence of a backbone or vertebral column. They are divided into five classes. These are;
a. Pisces (fishes)
b. Amphibia (Amphibians)
c. Reptilia (Reptiles)
d. Aves (Birds)
e. Mammalia (Mammals)
These classes of vertebrates differ in some ways although they have some charactersitics in common.
General Charactersitics of Vertebrates
i. They possess an internal jointed skeleton made up of cartilage and/or bones.
ii. They have bilaterally symmetrical bodies.
iii. The body is divided into head, trunk and tail.
iv. They have two pairs of limbs. The pectoral limbs form the fore-limbs or wings while the pelvic limbs form the hind limbs or legs.
v. They have well developed central nervous system with brain and spinal cord.
vi. They possess skin which may be naked or have a covering of scales, feathers or hairs.
Pisces (Fishes)
Charactersitics
i. They are aquatic animals i.e they can be found in marine or freshwater, ponds, rivers, lakes, etc
ii. The skin is covered by scales but few are without scales.
iii. They have fins which are used for movement in water.
iv. They are poikilothermic or cold-blooded animals, i.e, their body temperature varies with that of its environment.
v. They have gills which are used for gaseous exchange.
vi. They have lateral line system. This is used for detection of vibration and pressure in water.
vii. They have swim bladder which enables them to maintain buoyancy in water.
Pisces can be sub-divisions into two groups based on the nature of their skeletal system. These are bony fish and cartilaginous fish.
Bony fish: These are fish(es) with bony skeleton, e.g Tilipia, Carb, Salmon, Mackerel and Herring.
Cartilaginous fish: These are fish(es) whose bones are made of cartilages, e.g dogfish, minnow fish, skates, rayfish or shark.
Amphibia
Charactersitics
i. They are poikilothermic or cold-blooded animals
ii. They have two pairs of limbs – fore-limbs and hindlimbs.
iii. They have naked or moist and glandular skin with no external scales.
iv. They carry out gaseous exchange (respiration) by gills, lungs, skin and mouth.
v. Reproduction is sexual while fertilization is external.
vi. The young ones (tadpoles) are herbivores while adults are carnivores.
vii. They have poisonous glands on their skin which are used for defence.
viii. They have sticky tongue which can be protruded or retracted quickly.
ix. Examples are toads, frogs, salamander, newts.
Reptilia
Charactersitics
i. They are poikilothermic or cold-blooded animals.
ii. They have dry skin covered with scales.
iii. They have two pairs of limbs except snakes.
iv. Some are aquatic animals, e.g crocodile and turtles while others are terrestial animals, e.g snakes and lizards.
v. They have lungs which are used for gaseous exchange.
vi. Reproduction is sexual and fertilization is internal.
vii. They have an incomplete developed four chambered-heart.
viii. They have oviparous mode of reproduction, i.e the females lay fertilized eggs.
ix. Examples are lizard, wall gecko, tortoise, snakes, crocodiles.
Aves (Birds)
Charactersitics
i. They are homoiothermic or warm-blooded animals, i.e they have a constant body temperature.
ii. Their entire bodies are covered with feathers except the hind legs which are covered with scales.
iii. They have wings which are used for flight.
iv. They have rigid and hollow bones with air sacs which make them light during flight.
v. Reproduction is sexual and fertilization is internal.
vi. They exhibit oviparous mode of reproduction.
vii. They have lungs which are used for gaseous exchange.
viii. Examples are pigeons, domestic fowl, ducks, ostrich, Weaver birds, woodpeckers, Hawks, sparrow.
Mammalia
Charactersitics
i. They are homoiothermic or warm-blooded animals.
ii. Their bodies are covered with hairs.
iii. They have heterodont denition, i.e they have different set of teeth.
iv. Their internal cavity is divided into chest and abdomen by a muscular diaphragm.
v. The skin contains glands, e.g sweat, sebaceous and mammary glands.
vi. Reproduction is sexual and fertilization is internal.
vii. They have viviparous mode of reproduction, i.e they give birth to young ones alive.
viii. Examples are man, bats, monkeys etc.
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