Taxonomy - Animals

• Phyla in Kingdom Animalia


  • Porifera (Pore-bearers)
  • Cnidaria (Sting)
  • Rotifera (Wheel-bearer)
  • Annelida (Segmented worms)
  • Platyhelminthes (Flat worms)
  • Nematoda (Round worms)
  • Mollusca (Soft body)
  • Arthropoda (feet w/ joints)
  • Echinodermata (Spiny skin)
  • Chordata (Spinal cord)
• Classes in Phylum Chordata


  • Fishes
  • Amphibians
  • Reptiles
  • Birds
  • Mammals
• Rotifers


  Microscopic animals with one or more rings of cilia that resemble rotating wheels
• Sponges (Phylum Porifera)


  • Pore bearers, have osculum (excurrent pore) and ostia (incurrent pores)
  • Classes: Calcarea (calcium carbonate, 3 spicules), Hexactinellida (silica, 4-6 spicules), Demospongiae (spongin and silica)
• Cnidarians (Phylum Cnidaria)


  • Able to sting, have cnidocytes (stinging cells) and nematocysts (cell organelles that deliver the sting), include jellyfish, anemones, corals, and hydra
• Echinoderms (Phylum Echinodermata)


  • Marine invertebrates with spines and a water vascular system, have a five-rayed structure, include starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea lilies
• Classes of Mollusks (Phylum Mollusca)


  • Gastropoda (Stomach-foot)
  • Bivalvia (two shells)
  • Cephalopoda (Head-foot)
• Annelids (Phylum Annelida)


  • Segmented worms, include earthworms, leeches, and sea worms
• Platyhelminthes (Phylum Platyhelminthes)


  • Flat worms, include planarians, flukes, and tapeworms
• Nematodes (Phylum Nematoda)


  • Round worms, include Ascaris, filarial worms, hookworms, and trichina worms
• Classes of Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)


  • Insecta (Insects - 6 legs)
  • Arachnida (Arachnids - 8 legs)
  • Crustacea (Crustaceans - 10 legs)
  • Chilopoda (Centipedes)
  • Diplopoda (Millipedes)
• Classes of Fishes (Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata)

  • Osteichthyes (Bony Fishes)
  • Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)
  • Agnathans (Jawless Fishes)
• Orders of Amphibians (Class Amphibia)


  • Anura
  • Caudata
  • Apoda
• Types of Birds (Class Aves)


  • Perching Birds
  • Birds of Prey
  • Water Birds
  • Game Birds
  • Tropical Birds
  • Flightless Birds
  • Extinct Birds
• Orders of Reptiles (Class Reptilia)


  • Squamata
  • Chelonia
  • Crocodilia
  • Tuatara
• Phylum Porifera

  Calcera: 3 pointed spicules, calcium carbonate

  Hexacintellida: 4-6 pointed spicules, silica

  Demospongiae: spongin and silica
• Phylum Cnidara is also known as Coelenterata - hollow intestine
• Phylum Echinodermata

  Crinoidea: sea lily

  Asteriodea: starfish

  Ophioroidea: brittle star

  Echinoidea: sea cucumber

  Holothuroidea: sand dollar
• Phylum Mollusca

  Gastropoda: stomach-foot (snails)

  Bivalia: two shells (clams)

  Cephalopoda: head-foot (octopus)
• Phylum Annelida

  Polychaeta: sea worm

  Hirudinea: leeches

  Oligochaeta: earthworm
• Phylum Platyhelminthes

  Tubellaria: planaria

  Cestoda: tapeworms

  Trematoda: fluke
• Phylum Nematoda

  Ascaris lumbricoides

  Filarial worm

  Trichina worm

  Hook worm
• Phylum Arthropoda

  Insecta: 6 legs

  Arachnida: 8 legs

  Crustacea: 10 legs

  Chilopoda: centipedes

  Dilopoda: millipedes
• Class Amphibia

  Apoda: caecillians

  Anura: frogs

  Caudata: salamanders
• Class Mammalia

  Egg-laying

  Pouch mammals

  Placental mammals
• Cnidarians: anemone, coral, hydra, jellyfish
• Echinoderms: brittle star, starfish, sand dollar, sea lily, sea cucumber
• Mollusks: Snails, clams, octopus
• Annelids: sea worm, leeches, earthworms
• Platyhelminthes: planaria, tapeworm, fluke
• Nematodes: ascaris, filarial, trichina, hook
• Tubulidentata (Tube teeth) - Aardvark

  Probocsidea (trunks) – African & Asian elephant

  Sirenia (sea cows) – Dugong & Manatee

  Monotremata (Egg-laying) – Platypus & echidna

  Xenarthra (extra joints) – Sloth, anteater, armadillo

  Pholidota (Horny scale) - Pangolin

  Marsupialia (Pouched) –Kangaroo, koala, opossum

  Insectivora (Insect eating) - Mole, shrew, hedgehog

  Chiroptera (Flying) - Bat
• Cetacea (Marine mammals) – Whale, dolphin

  Primata (Tree-dwelling) – monkey, gorilla

  Rodentia (Gnawing / 2 incisor) – Beaver, rat, capybara, squirrel

  Lagomorpha (Hare-like/ 4 incisor) – Hare, rabbit, pika

  Demoptera (Skin wing) – Flying lemur

  Hyracoidea (Coney) - Hyrax

  Perissodactyla (Odd-toed) – Rhinoceros, Horse, zebra

  Artiodactyla (Even-toed) – Cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, giraffe

  Carnivora (Flesh eaters) – lion, bear