TAXONOMIC

CLASSIFICATION
PHYLUM CIRCULATORY NERVOUS RESPIRATORY DIGESTIVE EXCRETORY EMBRYONIC GENERAL
KEY EXAMPLES TISSUE ORGANIZATION COELOM
(CLASS) SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARACTERISTICS

Sessile, suspension feeders, aquatic

Intracellular
No true None None habitats, can produce asexually
Porifera Sponge - None Digestion (Via None (Diffusion) -
tissues (Diffusion) (Diffusion) (budding) or sexually
Amoebocytes)
(hermaphrodites)

Aquatic habitats, some have stinging

Hydra, Jellyfish, Gastrovascular
Diploblasts, None None cells (cnidocytes), some have life cycle
Cnidaria Sea Anemone, - Nerve Net Cavity (Two-Way None (Diffusion) -
True Tissues (Diffusion) (Diffusion) with polyp stage (non-motile, mostly
Coral Digestion)
asexual reproduction)

Flatworms, Gastrovascular Reproduce sexually (hermaphrodites) or

Anterior
Trematoda, None None Cavity (except Protonephridia and asexually (regeneration), parasitic
Platyhelminthes Triploblasts Acoelomate Ganglia Protostome
Flukes, Tapeworm, (Diffusion) (Diffusion) tapeworms - Flame Cells lifestyles, most primitive triploblast, has
(Brain)
Planarian absorb food) organs

Roundworm, Alimentary Canal Some have cuticle to prevent

Hookworm, Pseudo- None Nerve Cord and None (One Way degradation by host digestive system,
Nematoda Triploblasts None (Diffusion) Protostome
Trichinella, coelomate (Diffusion) Ring (Diffusion) Digestion w/ longitudinal muscles, no circular muscles,
Ascarcis Mouth and Anus) parasitic, not segmented

Cerebral
Reproduce sexually or partheno-
Pseudo- None Ganglia (Brain) None Protonephridia and
Rotifera Rotifers Triploblasts Alimentary Canal Protostome genetically, mostly freshwater
coelomate (Diffusion) w/ some Body (Diffusion) Flame Cells
environments
Nerves

Segmented bodies, septa divide

Anterior
Earthworms, Closed Circulatory None Most Have coelom, sexual (hermaphrodites) and
Annelida Triploblasts Coelomate Ganglia Alimentary Canal Protostome
Leech System (Diffusion) Metanephridia asexual (regeneration) reproduction,
(Brain)
longitudinal and circular muscles

Clam, Snail, Slug, Alimentary Canal

Squid, Octopus, Mainly Open and Accessory Calcium carbonate mantle, radula
Mollusca Triploblasts Coelomate Brain Gills Nephridia Protostome
Cephalopod, (Hemocoel) Organs (Digestive (tongue), have hemocoel
Gastropod Tract)

Open Spiracles Chitinous exoskeleton, jointed

Arthopoda Malpighian
Ant, Grasshopper Triploblasts Coelomate Circulatory Fused Ganglia and Tracheal Digestive Tract Protostome appendages, three pairs of legs,
(Insecta) Tubules
System Tubes more species than any other phylum

Open Malpighian Chitinous exoskeleton, jointed

Arthopoda Trachea or
Spider, scorpion Triploblasts Coelomate Circulatory Fused Ganglia Digestive Tract Tubules and/or Protostome appendages, four pairs of legs, land
(Arachnida) Book Lungs
System Coxal Glands habitats

Terrestrial:
Open
Arthopoda Lobster, Crayfish, Some Have Malpighian Tubules Chitinous exoskeleton, jointed
Triploblasts Coelomate Circulatory Fused Ganglia Digestive Tract Protostome
(Crustacea) Crab Gills Aquatic: Green appendages, aquatic habitats
System
Glands

Starfish, Open Water vascular system, sexual or

None
Echinodermata Sea Urchin, Triploblasts Coelomate Circulatory Nerve Ring Digestive Tract None (Diffusion) Deuterostome asexual reproduction, closest related
(Diffusion)
Sea Cucumber System major phyla to chordates

Closed Notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord,

See Other
Chordata Vertebrates Triploblasts Coelomate Circulatory See Other Table See Other Table See Other Table Deuterostome pharyngeal gill slits, muscular post- anal
Table
System tail
 CHORDATA
CLASSIFICATION
KEY CIRCULATORY NERVOUS RESPIRATORY DIGESTIVE GENERAL
SUBPHYLUM CLASS
EXAMPLES SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

Developmental
characteristics of other
Cephalochordata: None chordates, but lack
Urochordata: Heart vertebrae.
Urochordata and Tunicates, (diffusion) Alimentary Canal, Filter
N/A Cephalochordata: Primitive Cephalochordata keep
Cephalochordata Lancelets Urochordata: Feeders notochord through
No Heart
Gills adulthood, urochordata
only have it as larvae and
live in benthic habitats

Cartilaginous skeleton,
Agnatha,
Two Chambered respirate via
Vertebrata Fish (Jawless) Lamprey, Complete, Brain Gills Digestive Tract
Heart countercurrent exchange
Hagfish through gills

Two Chambered Jaws and teeth,

Vertebrata Fish (Cartilaginous) Shark Complete, Brain Gills Digestive Tract
Heart cartilaginous skeleton

Salmon, Two Chambered

Vertebrata Fish (Bony) Complete, Brain Gills Digestive Tract Scales, bony skeleton
Halibut Heart

No scales. Tadpoles live in

Frog, aquatic habitats, have tails
Three Chambered Gills (Juvenile)
Vertebrata Amphibia Toad, Newt, Complete, Brain Digestive Tract and no legs. Adults live in
Heart Lungs (Adult) land habitats, have two
Salamander
pairs of legs and no tail

Duckbill Warm blooded, feed

Mammalia Four Chambered
Vertebrata Platypus, Complete, Brain Lungs Digestive Tract young with milk, leathery
(Monotremes) Heart eggs
Spiny Anteater

Warm blooded, feed

Mammalia Kangaroo, Four Chambered
Vertebrata Complete, Brain Lungs Digestive Tract young with milk, carry
(Marsupials) Opossum Heart young in pouch

Warm blooded, feed

Mammalia Bat, Whale, Four Chambered
Vertebrata Complete, Brain Lungs Digestive Tract young with milk, fetus
(Placentals) Mouse, Human Heart supported by placenta

Land habitats, leathery

Three Chambered
Vertebrata Reptilia Turtle, Snake Complete, Brain Lungs Digestive Tract eggs, internal fertilization,
Heart* cold blooded

Four Chambered Warm blooded, eggs in

Vertebrata Birds Eagle, Blue Jay Complete, Brain Lungs Digestive Tract
Heart shells

*Crocodilians have four chambered hearts

 PLANT
CLASSIFICATION
CLADE NAME KEY PHYLA EXAMPLES GENERAL TRAITS KEYWORDS

Gametophyte dominates life cycles

Reduced sporophyte is dependent
on gametophyte for survival
Flagellated sperm
Bryophytes Hornworts, Mosses, Sporophyte consists of seta, foot and Rhizoids anchor gametophytes,
Bryophyta sporangia
(Nonvascular) Liverworts no roots
Majority have no vascular tissue
Majority have minimal vertical
growth
Most exist in moist habitats

Flagellated sperm
Most exist in moist habitats
Most are heterosporous
Independent gametophyte and Roots: structural support and
Club Moss, Quillworts, sporophyte life cycles water absorption
Vascular Plants Lycophyta,
Fern, Horsetail Formed the first forests during the Lignin: helps support vascular
(Seedless) Pterophyta Carboniferous period (ferns) tissue
Vascular tissue (xylem and phloem); Leaves: improved photosynthesis
water and nutrient transport makes
survival in more arid environments
possible

Unprotected seeds
Majority do not have flagellated Pollen: improved fertilization
Fir, Spruce, Aspen, sperm efficiency
Gymnosperms All are heterosporous
Red Wood, Pine, Conifers Seeds: improved dispersal and
Pollen often carried by wind durability
Ovules

Vascular Plants
(With Seeds)

Protected seeds exist in fruit

(ovaries)
Flowering Plants,
Most abundant type of plant
Angiosperms Magnoliophyta
Non-flagellated sperm
Flowers and fruits
Exhibit double fertilization (some
gymnosperms do too)