Though other animals only live on land or in the water, amphibians animal spirits have the unique ability to thrive equally in both. Amphibians cover over 6,000 different species across the globe, but about 90% are frogs. Animals first appeared in the fossil record in the late Cryogenian period and diversified in the subsequent Ediacaran period in what is known as the Avalon explosion.
Invertebrate Species
Lancelets are small fish-like animals with translucent bodies. Although they don’t have a backbone – and are therefore not vertebrates – they do possess a flexible central nerve cord called a notochord. Animal classification is the scientific system used to categorize and organize the vast diversity of animals on Earth. Animals have evolved to live in a wide variety of habitats. On the pages below, you can explore various habitats and the animals found in each. See lists of animals that start with every letter of the alphabet, from A to Z.
Shark tagged from submarine for first time in history
Species classified within the same family or genus share a more recent common ancestor compared to those in different families or orders, and are therefore more closely related. Our closest relatives in the animal kingdom are chimpanzees (and bonobos), which, like us, belong to the “great ape” family, Hominidae. Dogs are the most popular type of pet on earth with nearly 500 million worldwide. The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog breed, and was bred to hunt wolves. Chihuahuas are the smallest, and were likely bred for companionship or to hunt small rodents. Animals including insects200 and mammals208 feature in mythology and religion.
Once the dominant land vertebrates on the planet, reptiles still occupy just about every single ecosystem outside of the extreme north and south. Animals dominate human conceptions of life on Earth not simply by their size, abundance, and sheer diversity but also by their mobility, a trait that humans share. So integral is movement to the conception of animals that sponges, which lack muscle tissues, were long considered to be plants. Only after their small movements were noticed in 1765 did the animal nature of sponges slowly come to be recognized. Animals are multicellular eukaryotes whose cells are bound together by collagen. Animals dominate human conceptions of life on Earth because of their size, diversity, abundance, and mobility.
Animal Pedia is a leading online website offering a vast library of information on animals from all corners of the globe. Discover our newest additions to the animal kingdom database. Then test your knowledge with our fun, free Animal Quizzes! You can also download free coloring pages, word searches, and animal mazes on our Activity Sheets page.
Humans Are Animals
The crustacean has to shed the exoskeleton in order to grow. Although most sponges attach themselves to the sea bed and don’t move as adults, sponge larvae are able to swim. The nucleus contains genetic information that tells the organism how to grow. An organelle is a structure within a cell, such as a nucleus, that has a specific function.
Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded vertebrates with four-chambered hearts. However, they are more closely related to reptiles and are believed to have evolved from dinosaurs. Historically, Aristotle divided animals into those with blood and those without.
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- Animals differ from members of the two other kingdoms of multicellular eukaryotes, the plants (Plantae) and the fungi (Mycota), in fundamental variations in morphology and physiology.
- The kingdom Animalia is one of the most diverse groups of organisms on the planet, containing millions of species spread across various habitats around the globe.
- Joeys undergo further development within a special pouch in the mother’s body.
- More than half are passerines, or “perching birds”, members of the order Passeriformes.
- Delivering precise, comprehensive, and authoritative knowledge about the animal kingdom through a structured and accessible approach, inspiring a lifelong passion for exploration.
Select a letter to uncover fascinating creatures starting with it today. Here you can find out all about thousands of mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fishes walking, flying, and swimming the Earth. Marsupials are mammals that give birth to small, relatively undeveloped young, known as ‘joeys’.
The most common pets include dogs, cats, fish, and birds, but there are also many amazing exotic pets like reptiles, lizards, and more! Unlike invertebrates, vertebrates (members of the subphylum Vertebrata) form a scientific group in animal classification. Animal Pedia is a growing digital encyclopedia that brings the animal kingdom to life, currently featuring an extensive collection of reptiles species. We offer comprehensive species profiles and clear scientific insights into biodiversity, and ecology. Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, students, researchers or even casual learners, Animal Pedia makes learning about animals engaging and accessible.
- A pet is a domesticated animal that lives with a person or family, usually in a house.
- Once the dominant land vertebrates on the planet, reptiles still occupy just about every single ecosystem outside of the extreme north and south.
- Animals follow virtually every known mode of living that has been described for the creatures of Earth.
- Chihuahuas are the smallest, and were likely bred for companionship or to hunt small rodents.
- The coral secretes a hard substance called calcium carbonate as a protective exoskeleton.
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In contrast, the photosynthetic algae, which feed the open oceans, are usually too small to be seen, but marine animals range to the size of whales. Diversity of form, in contrast to size, only impinges peripherally on human awareness of life and thus is less noticed. Nevertheless, animals represent three-quarters or more of the species on Earth, a diversity that reflects the flexibility in feeding, defense, and reproduction which mobility gives them. Animals follow virtually every known mode of living that has been described for the creatures of Earth. Animal, (kingdom Animalia), any of a group of multicellular eukaryotic organisms (i.e., as distinct from bacteria, their deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is contained in a membrane-bound nucleus). They are thought to have evolved independently from the unicellular eukaryotes.
1 Explore the fascinating world of reptiles through scientific knowledge and comprehensive research. Some of the most popular types of animals on earth are pets. A pet is a domesticated animal that lives with a person or family, usually in a house.
Animals differ from members of the two other kingdoms of multicellular eukaryotes, the plants (Plantae) and the fungi (Mycota), in fundamental variations in morphology and physiology. This is largely because animals have developed muscles and hence mobility, a characteristic that has stimulated the further development of tissues and organ systems. Lizards, dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, and snakes – all belong to that ancient and stout class of animals known as the reptiles. This is a diverse group with more than 10,000 different species and a huge representation in the fossil record.
MAMMALS
In animal classification, each animal is grouped based on various features, such as physical characteristics, genetic relationships, and evolutionary history. Animal classification provides a structured way to name, rank, and classify the millions of animal species discovered. Although all animals share the above characteristics, animals exhibit diverse body plans, life cycles, and forms of behavior. The kingdom Animalia is one of the most diverse groups of organisms on the planet, containing millions of species spread across various habitats around the globe. To have the classification of an amphibian, an animal must be a vertebrate, require water to survive, be cold-blooded, and spend time both on land and in water.