Interesting Topics / Classification of Animals


classification of Animals
Animals classification It is based on where they live(land, water), What They eat, Base on their habitats, body complexity, feeding habits, reproduction, etc.
Animals General Classification based on Based on backbone (Vertebrates, Invertebrates), Nutrition(Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores), Place They Live(Terrestrial Animals, Aquatic Animals, Aerial Animals, Arboreal Animals, Amphibians, Parasites), Decomposers.
Species on earth Approximately 1.2 million species
Animals Characteristics Huge Range
Example Birds(Vertebrates, warm Blooded, 2 legs, Lay eggs, some can fly, have feathers,Breathe with lungs, most live in land and water)Examples : Parrot, duck, peacock e.t.c

Reptiles(Vertebrates, Cold Blooded, Lay eggs, skin is dry,Breathe with lungs, most live in land and water)Examples: Snake, lizard , tortoise, lizard, crocodile e.t.c

Fish(Vertebrates, Cold Blooded, Dont have legs, Lay eggs, Breathe with gills, live in water)Example: Swedish, McFish, Puff Daddy, Floater e.t.c

Mammals(Vertebrates, warm Blooded, Gives birth and feed milk, some can fly, Lay eggs, Breathe with lungs, most live in land and water) Examples: rats, cats, dogs, deer, monkeys, apes, bats, whales, dolphins, and humans.

Habitat It depends on where they live / kind places (region land(plains, deserts, mountains) / water (lakes, rivers, and oceans) / both).


Classification of Animals based on Body Structure
Animals Classification based on Body Structure It is based on presence and absence of the vertebral column (backbone).
Vertebrates Here in Animals, vertebral column (backbone) is Present
Invertebrates Here in Animals, vertebral column (backbone) is Not Present


Invertebrates features The animals which dont have vertebral column are called as invertebrates. It contains a bendy frame consist of head, thorax, and stomach, small in size and reproduce sexually (some) and asexually(others).
Invertebrates Examples 1. Sponges
2. Unsegmented Worms: Tapeworm, Roundworms, e.t.c.
3. Segmented Worms: Earthworms, Leech, And So On.
4. Arthropods: Cockroaches, Millipede, Centipede, Mosquitoes, Prawns, Crabs, e.t.c.
5. Echinoderms: Starfish, Sea Cucumber, e.t.c.
6. Molluscs: Snails, Oysters, Octopus, e.t.c.


Vertebrates
Vertebrates features The animals which have vertebral column are called as vertebrates. It contains a bendy frame consist of head, thorax, and stomach, small in size and reproduce sexually (some) and asexually(others).
Vertebrates Examples birds, mammals, fishes, lampreys, amphibians, and reptiles. E.T.C




Classification of Animals primarily based on Nutrition
Classification of Animals primarily based on Nutrition are of 3 types.They were
1. Herbivores / Heterotrophs.
2. Carnivores.
3. Omnivores.

Classification Based on Nutrition Animals whose Primary Food Source
Herbivores Definition Animals whose primary food source is plant based are called as Herbivores and they cant prepare the food by their own.
Carnivores Animals whose primary food source is meat / flesh of other animals are called as Carnivores and they cant prepare the food by their own.
Omnivores Animals whose primary food source is plant based and meat / flesh of other animals are called as Omnivores.


Herbivores Details
Herbivores Definition Animals whose primary food source is plant based are called as Herbivores and they cant prepare the food by their own.
Herbivores Feed upon grasses, plant leaves, and other plant products
Herbivores Examples antelope, beaver, bison, buffalo, camel, cow, deer, donkey e.t.c


Types of herbivores
S.No Type Animals Feed on / consume grain /consume seed / suck / consume leaves
1 Frugivores Feed on fruits.
2 Granivores Grain / seed consuming animals.
3 Nectivores Suck the flower nectar.
4 Flavivores Consume leaves.





Carnivores / Meat Eater
Carnivores Definition It is a animal whose primary food source is meat / flesh of other animals.
Examples Lions, tigers, foxes, eagles, etc.
Prey Definition The animals that are being killed
Predator Definition Animals who kills. So carnivores is a Predator.
Carnivores capabilities to seek and seize animals Arobust legs to run fastly to capture the prey and sharp claws help to injure the prey.






Omnivores

Animals whose primary food source is plant based and meat / flesh of other animals are called as Omnivores.

Omnivores Definition Animals whose primary food source is plant based and meat / flesh of other animals are called as Omnivores.
Omnivores Examples Badgers,Civets, Catfish, Piranhas, Chimpanzees, Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Bonnethead sharks e.t.c






Terrestrial Animals
Terrestrial Animals Definition The animals that stay at the land are called terrestrial animals
Terrestrial Animals Examples Cats, Ants, Dogs, Raccoons, Spiders, Kangaroos, Tigers, Lions, Mice, Bats, Bulls, Oxen, Leopards, Elephants E.T.C
Terrestrial Animals Features Have Skin, limbs (legs), claws, sharp teeth, hunt different animals / may not, protect themselves from their predators






Aquatic Animals
Aquatic Animals Definition The animals that live within the water are called as Aquatic animals.
Aquatic Animals Examples Fish, Lobsters, Dolphins, Jellyfish, Sharks, Sea Turtles, Starfish, Crabs, Octopus, Whales, Seahorses, Squid, Swordfish, Shrimp, Killer Whales, Manta Rays, Otters, Oysters E.T.C
Aquatic Animals Features Gills used to breathe underwater, no external ears, swim easily





Aerial Animals
Aerial Animals Definition The animals which can fly in the air for a numerous time called as Aerial animals.
Aerial Animals Examples Parrot, Butterflies, Wasps, And Fruit Flies, Kingfisher, Pigeon, Albatross E.T.C
Aerial Animals Features capability to fly in the air, have (wings, limbs , feathers).
Aerial Animals Cant Fly ostrich, kiwi, emu, e.t.c






Arboreal Animals
Arboreal Animals Definition These animals which spend most of their time on trees are called as Arboreal Animals.
Arboreal Animals Examples Monkey, squirrel and tree lizard
Arboreal Animals Features Have claws and strong legs and arms and climb trees and their branches, swing from one tree to other






Amphibians
Amphibians Animals Definition These animals which spend their time on water aswell as on land are called as Amphibians Animals.
Amphibians Animals Examples Frogs, toads, and salamanders
Amphibians Animals Features forelimbs, finger-like structures, they swim in water, slimy skin, lungs



Parasites
Parasites Definition It is an organism that lives on / in a host organism and gets food from that host .
Parasites Examples Protozoa, Helminths, And Ectoparasites
Parasites Features smaller, depends on host for its food
Types of Parasites Ectoparasite and Endoparasite

Ectoparasite Ectoparasite are animals Live and gain Nutrition by sucking blood of the host. Example: Mosquitoes, scabies,the common bed bug, fleas and lice etc
Endoparasite Endoparasites live inside the host for Nutrition. Example Tapeworms, roundworms,hookworms, ascarids and coccidia




Scavengers / Decomposers / Environment cleaners
Scavengers Definition Scavengers are animals that consume decaying / dead biomass( meat)
Scavengers Examples Crows, Vultures, Coyote, Hyena, Jackals, Piranha, Wolves, Ants e.t.c
Scavengers Features consume the decaying bodies / dead biomass




Home    Back