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.
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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).
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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.
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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).
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Vertebrates Examples |
birds, mammals, fishes, lampreys, amphibians, and reptiles. E.T.C
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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
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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
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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 |
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