animal kingdom

parazoa

sister taxon to metazoa. encompasses simple multicellular organisms, such as sponges, that lack true tissues and organs.

porifera

sponges that belong to the phylum Porifera, known for their porous structure and ability to filter water.

eumetazoa

a group of animals that possess true tissues and are more complex than parazoans, including all animals except sponges.

radiata

radically symetrical, diploblastic animals with sac body plan and nerve net such as cnidarians and ctenophores.

cnidaria

“jellies” possess cnidocytes with nematocysts, polyp and medusa body form

scyphozoa

jellyfish, dominant medusa body form and sexual reproduction; polyp form is asexual

cubozoa

very toxic jellyfish; medusa only

hydrozoa

hydroids, both polyp and medusa forms; mostly colonial.

anthozoa

flower animals; polyp form only, no medusa stage. They include corals and sea anemones.

ctenophora

jellies with lobes or 2 long tentacles that move using cilia; known as comb jellies.

bilateria

bilaterally symmetrical organisms with distinct left and right sides, including most animals.

protostomes

triploblastic; spiral cleavage pattern organisms that develop the mouth from the blastopore, including arthropods and mollusks.

lophotrochozoa

a clade of protostome animals characterized by having either a lophophore or a trochophore larval stage, including mollusks and annelids.

platyhelminthes

flatworms that are unsegmented and include parasitic and free-living species.

turbellaria

free living flatworms that inhabit freshwater and marine environments, characterized by their ciliated body surface.

trematodes

flukes; parasitic flatworms that inhabit various hosts, including humans and other animals, often causing diseases.

cestodes

tapeworms; all parasitic; long, segmented flatworms that live in the intestines of vertebrates.

rotifers

microscopic, multicellular animals that are commonly found in freshwater, exhibiting a unique wheel-like structure of cilia for locomotion and feeding.

annelids

segmented worms, such as earthworms and polychaetes, characterized by their body segmentation and the presence of setae. They play crucial roles in soil fertility and aquatic ecosystems.

polychaetes

a class of annelids that primarily live in marine environments, characterized by their bristles and often elaborate body segments.

oligochaetes

a class of annelids that includes earthworms, known for their relatively few setae compared to polychaetes and their role in soil aeration and organic matter recycling.

leeches

a subclass of annelids that are often blood-feeding parasites, known for their ability to secrete anticoagulants and their role in medical applications.

molluscs

a diverse group of invertebrates that includes snails, clams, and octopuses, characterized by a soft body, often protected by a hard shell, and a distinct head.

bivalves

a class of molluscs that includes clams, oysters, and mussels, characterized by their two-part hinged shell and filter-feeding behavior.

gastropods

a class of molluscs that includes snails and slugs, characterized by a single, often spiraled shell and a distinct head with sensory organs.

cephalopods

a class of molluscs that includes squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish, characterized by their highly developed nervous system, tentacles, and ability to change color.

ecdysozoa

a group of animals that undergo ecdysis, or molting, to grow, including arthropods and nematodes.

nematodes

a group of unsegmented roundworms that can be found in various environments, often characterized by their elongated bodies and a complete digestive system.

arthropods

invertebrates characterized by an exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, including insects, arachnids, and crustaceans.

crustaceans

a diverse group of aquatic arthropods including shrimp, crabs, and lobsters, typically having a hard shell and jointed legs.

chelicerates

a subphylum of arthropods that includes horseshoe crabs, scorpions, spiders, and mites, characterized by having chelicerae, which are specialized mouthparts.

uniramians

arthropods with a single pair of antennae and uniramous limbs, comprising insects and myriapods.

chilopods

a class of myriapods commonly known as centipedes, characterized by having one pair of legs per body segment and being carnivorous.

diplopods

a class of myriapods known as millipedes, characterized by having two pairs of legs per body segment and a cylindrical shape.

hexapods

a class of uniramians that includes insects, characterized by having six legs and three main body segments.

deuterostomes

a major lineage of animals characterized by their embryonic development, where the anus forms before the mouth. This group includes echinoderms and chordates.

echinodermata

a phylum of marine animals characterized by a tough, spiny skin, radial symmetry, and a water vascular system. This group includes starfish and sea urchins.

chordata

a phylum of animals including vertebrates and some invertebrates, characterized by the presence of a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, and pharyngeal slits.

cephalochordata

a subphylum of chordates known as lancelets, characterized by a notochord that persists throughout their life and small, fish-like body structure.

urochordata

a subphylum of Chordata that includes marine invertebrates like tunicates, characterized by a notochord in their larval stage.

vertebrata

a subphylum within Chordata that includes animals with a backbone or spinal column, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

vertbrata

a subphylum of chordates comprising animals with a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.

cyclostomata

a superclass of jawless fish, including hagfish and lampreys, characterized by a circular mouth and a lack of fins.

chondrichtheyes

a class of fish characterized by a cartilage-based skeleton, including sharks and rays.

actinopterygii

a class of fish characterized by having a bony skeleton and ray-finned structure. This group includes the majority of modern fish species.

sarcopterygii

a class of fish with lobe-shaped fins, including coelacanths and lungfishes, believed to be ancestral to terrestrial vertebrates.

amphibia

a class of cold-blooded vertebrates that includes frogs, toads, and salamanders, characterized by a life cycle that typically includes an aquatic larval stage.

retilia

a class of cold-blooded vertebrates that includes snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodilians, characterized by their scaly skin and typically laying eggs.

aves

a class of warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by feathers, beaks, and laying hard-shelled eggs, including species like birds.

mammalia

a class of warm-blooded vertebrates that includes mammals, characterized by having fur or hair and mammary glands for feeding their young.