Animals

Within the Animal Kingdom there are 9 major PHYLA (plural for phylum)

Each phylum in the animal kingdom is separated from the others by different evolutionary milestones that make it unique.

Eukaryotes

Heterotrophs (except for the leafy sea sheep... google this)

Helpful Vocab:

Vertebrate: An animal with a spine / backbone

Invertebrate: An animal withOUT a spine / backbone

Bilateral symmetry: An animal that is the same on both sides (distinct left and right)

Radial Symmetry: An animal that is the same no matter which direction you slice it.

Asymmetrical: No distinct pattern. Only 1 animal in this category = Sponges (porifera)

DOMAIN: Eukarya

KINGDOM: Anamalia

PHYLA: 9 major listed below

Porifera

(Sponges)

The simplest of all the animal phyla. These simple, brainless animals eat by filtering water through their pores and feeding on tiny organisms. They are Asymmetrical, so they have no body symmetry. The young are mobile and will "plant" themselves in a place where they will remain for the rest of their lives.

Watch this video on Sponges!

The video has a LOT of important information. Don't skip it!

Examples of different types of sponges:

Cnidaria

(Jellies, Anemones, and Corals)

In addition to the adaptations that sponges have, Cnidarians have specialized tissues and radial symmetry!

They do not have brains but function through a series of actions and reactions. They have one opening that is used both as their mouth and for eliminating wastes. This opening is surrounded by tentacles that are used for directing food into the mouth for digestion.

Platyhelminthes

(Flatworms)

In addition to having specialized tissues like Cnidarians, flatworms have bilateral symmetry and a primitive brain. Think of them as "flatty helmets" to help you remember that they are flatworms and they have a head region.

Bilateral Symmetry: Mirrored left and right sides

Mollusca

(clams, snails, slugs, octopi)

Mollusks are the first animals to have a true body cavity to support organs. They all have soft bodies, brains, bilateral symmetry, and specialized tissues and organs.

Some animals in this phylum, like the octopus, cuttlefish, and squid are highly intelligent and have been shown to have the ability for complex problem solving and reason!

Examples of Mollusks:

Nematoda

(Roundworms)

Round worms were the first animals to develop a body cavity or coelom in addition to everything the flatworms developed. They have primitive organs, a protective outer layer or cuticle, and bilateral symmetry.

Some nematodes are parasites.

Annelida

(Segmented Worms)

Annelids are the first animals that display segmentation. This means that their body has repeating parts, some that are specialized.

Arthropoda

(Lobsters, Insects, Millipedes, Spiders, Crabs)

Arthropod translates to "jointed foot." These animals are the first to have appendages that have joints. Each segment has appendages (arms/legs), some are more specialized than others. They also have exoskeletons (skeletons on the outside) with soft tissue safely on the inside. Arthropoda is the LARGEST of the Animal Phyla

Echinoderms

(Sea Stars, Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers, Sand Dollars)

Echinoderms all have rough bumpy skin and are the phylum most closely related to the phylum humans belong to due to how they develop. Echinoderms have bilateral symmetry as larvae and RADIAL symmetry as adults. Echinoderms are only found in oceans.

Chordata

(Humans, Reptiles, Fish, Sharks, Lampreys)

Animals in this phylum have had a notochord at some point in their life. The notochord is typically replaced by the spine or backbone as the animal develops. They also have paired pharyngeal gill slits (these fuse up in humans and many other animals during development), a ventral heart (a heart divided into sections), a post-anal tail (or suggestion of one, like a tail bone), bilateral symmetry, and a brain.

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