CHAPTER 4: ANIMAL KINGDOM

Salient features and classification of animals, non-chordates up to phyla level

and chordates up to class level (salient features and at a few examples of
each category).

The science of classifying organisms is called taxonomy. Every species discovered so far
are classified into five kingdoms – one among them is Kingdom Animalia or Animal
kingdom. The members of kingdom Animalia are further classified into different Phyla,
Class, Order, Family, and Genus based on certain identifiable characteristic features.

NON-CHORDATES AND THE CHORDATES

Non-chordates are animals without a notochord – the rod-like elastic structure that
supports the body. This phylum consists of a small group of worm-like, marine species
with an organ-system level of organization.
Members of phylum Porifera, Coelenterata, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes,
Aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Hemichordata fall
under non-chordates.
Characteristic features of Non-Chordates
 They are cylindrical, triploblastic, coelomate, or pseudocoelomate animals.
 Respiration in these animals takes place through gills, trachea or body surface.
 Most of the times, sexes cannot be distinguished among the members.
 Modes of reproduction involve sexual and asexual.
 Fertilization is external, though internal fertilization also occurs in some species.
 The body of non-chordates generally includes an open type of circulatory system.
Chordates are animals characterized by the presence of notochord at some stage
during their development. Members possess a hollow nerve cord and pharyngeal gill
slits.
 They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, and coelomate with the organ-
system level of organization.
 They hold a post-anal tail
 The body includes a closed circulatory system.
 In some members of Phylum Chordata, the notochord is present only in the
larval tail, and in some, it is present throughout their life from head to tail region.
  Chordates have many sub-divisions and Protochordates are one of the earliest to
evolve.
Phylum Chordata is divided into three subphyla: Urochordata, Cephalochordata,
and Vertebrata.
 Subphylum – Urochordata
It is also referred to as Tunicata which are marine animals. The body of these
animals is surrounded by a leathery covering (similar to a tunic, hence the
name). Larvae are free-swimming, the notochord is present only in the tail of
larvae and after settling on the seabed, they get transformed into sessile adults.
They are generally hermaphrodites. Examples include – Ascidians, Doliolum,
Oikopleura, etc.
 Subphylum – Cephalochordata
It mainly consists of small, fish-like marine animals in which the notochord is
extended along the entire body. The animals also have pharynx, which is large
with numerous gill- slits. Members of this subphylum have separate sexes.
Example include – Amphioxus or lancelet.
 Subphylum – Vertebrata
In this subphylum, the notochord is present in the embryonic stages and is
replaced by a vertebral column in the adult. They have 2, 3 or 4 chambered
heart, paired appendages for locomotion and kidneys for excretion or
osmoregulation.