Outline Classification of Animal Kingdom and Chordata (Whittaker Five Kingdoms and Phyla)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on animal classification and chordate biology.

Five Kingdoms (Whittaker)

Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia; classification based on cell structure, mode and source of nutrition, and body design.

Animalia

Largest kingdom; multicellular eukaryotes; heterotrophic; lack chlorophyll and cell walls.

Subphyla (Animalia)

Ten subphyla classified based on body design or differentiation.

Porifera

Sponges; non-motile, porous, filter-feeding animals with a canal system; marine examples include Spongilla and Sycon.

Coelenterata (Cnidaria)

Aquatic, hollow-bodied animals with two tissue layers and a hollow body cavity; includes Hydra and jellyfish; radial symmetry.

Platyhelminthes

Flatworms; dorsoventrally flattened, triploblastic, no true coelom; bilateral symmetry; Planaria and tapeworms as examples.

Nematoda

Roundworms; cylindrical, pseudocoelom, bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic; many are parasitic (e.g., Ascaris, Wuchereria).

Annelida

Segmented worms; segmented cylindrical bodies; true coelom; bilateral symmetry; Earthworms and Leech as examples.

Arthropoda

Jointed appendages; exoskeleton; segmented body; largest animal phylum; flies, spiders, crabs, butterflies, mosquitoes.

Mollusca

Bilaterally symmetrical; triploblastic; reduced segmentation; open circulatory system; typically have a muscular foot; examples include Snails and Octopus.

Echinodermata

Radial symmetry; true coelom; calcareous, spiny-skinned marine animals; examples include sea urchins and starfish.

Hemichordata

Soft, worm-like marine animals with proboscis; open circulatory system; marine respiration via gills; external fertilization; direct development.

Chordata

Notochord; dorsal hollow nerve cord; pharyngeal slits; post-anal tail; notochord often replaced by vertebral column in vertebrates.

Notochord

Longitudinal cartilaginous rod between nerve cord and digestive tract; provides support; replaced by vertebral column in most vertebrates.

Dorsal Nerve Cord

Tubular nerve cord located dorsally; develops into brain and spinal cord in vertebrates.

Pharyngeal Slits

Openings that allow water to pass from mouth to pharynx; present at some life stage in all chordates.

Post-anal Tail

Extension of the body beyond the anus; used for locomotion in many chordates; may be reduced in adults.

Urochordata (Tunicates)

Subphylum of Chordata; includes ascidians, salps, larvaceans; notochord present only in larval tail.

Cephalochordata (Lancets)

Subphylum containing lancelets (Branchiostoma); protochordates; notochord extends throughout life.

Vertebrata (Vertebrata)

Subphylum with vertebral column; notochord replaced; ventral heart; kidneys; paired appendages.

Craniata

Craniates; vertebrates with a skull/cranium protecting the brain.

Agnatha

Jawless primitive fish; no true jaws; includes extinct groups like Ostracodermi.

Ostracodermi

Extinct class of heavily armored jawless fishes; early vertebrates.

Cyclostomata

Jawless vertebrates including lampreys and hagfish; primitive, basal vertebrates.

Gnathostomata

Jawed vertebrates; two superclasses: Pisces and Tetrapoda.

Pisces

Fishes; aquatic vertebrates with gills and fins; part of Gnathostomata.

Tetrapoda

Four-limbed vertebrates; includes amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Amphibia

Vertebrates with aquatic larval stage; gills, moist skin, and typically a three-chambered heart.

Reptilia

Terrestrial vertebrates with dry, horny scales; lungs; generally cold-blooded; hearts typically three- or four-chambered.

Aves

Birds; feathers and wings; no teeth in beak; four-chambered heart; warm-blooded.

Mammalia

Mammals; hair; mammary glands; four-chambered heart; warm-blooded.

Osteichthyes

Bony fishes; skeleton primarily bone; part of Gnathostomata.

Chondrichthyes

Cartilaginous fishes; sharks, rays, and skates.

Placodermi

Extinct group of armored jawed fishes.

Protochordata/Acrania

Lower chordates; marine animals lacking a defined cranium; includes similar groups like Hemichordata, Urochordata, Cephalochordata.

Protochordata

Old/alternative term for Acrania; primitive chordate-like animals before the evolution of a true cranium.