The Diversity of the Animal Kingdom: Phylum Characteristics
by Yuvi K - December 16, 2023
Introduction (परिचय)
Animal kingdom is a vast grouping of multicellular organisms that are motile and ingest food for sustenance and growth. The organisms in this kingdom are classified into over 35 phyla. Each phylum is a distinctive lineage of animals based on the characteristics that define the group.
The diversity of life in the animal kingdom is truly remarkable. Each phylum, or group, exhibits unique characteristics that allow us to recognize it in the first place. Phylogenetic studies allow us to trace the evolutionary history of each group and classify them accordingly. In this article, we will explore the unique characteristics of each of the main phyla that make up the Animal Kingdom.
Classification of the Animal Kingdom (पशु समुह का वर्गीकरण)
The Animal Kingdom is generally divided into seven major phyla: Chordata, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Annelida, Nematoda, Echinodermata, and Cnidaria. Of these phyla, Chordata is the most diverse, with over 45,000 species. Let’s take a closer look at each of the seven phyla and their characteristics.
Chordata (कोह्रदता)
Chordata is a phylum of animals distinguished by the possession of a notochord. The phylum includes vertebrates, such as humans, and invertebrates, such as lancelets and tunicates. Chordates also possess a dorsal nerve cord, a post-anal tail, a cranium, and pharyngeal clefts or slits. The classification of Chordata can be further broken down into five classes: Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, and Pisces.
Arthropoda (अर्थ्रोपोडा)
Arthropoda is the largest of all phyla, with over 1.2 million species identified. This group is distinguished by its segments, each of which is encased in a hard exoskeleton. Arthropods are further categorized into subgroups, such as insects, arachnids, crustaceans, centipedes, millipedes, and mites. The class Insecta, which is the largest class of arthropods, is further broken down into orders, families, and species.
Mollusca (मोलुस्का)
Mollusca is a phylum of animals characterized by a soft body with a muscular foot, an open circulatory system, and a mantle. Mollusks include snails, clams, oysters, and octopuses, and can be further divided into classes, such as Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Cephalopoda.
Annelida (अनेलीडा)
Annelida is a phylum of segmented worms. Annelids can be broken down into two classes: Oligochaeta, which includes earthworms, and Polychaeta, which includes bristle worms.
Nematoda (नेमाटोडा)
Nematoda is a phylum of unsegmented worms that exhibit a round cross-section. Nematodes are also known as roundworms, and include species such as the pinworm, hookworm, and nematode worms.
Echinodermata (इक्नोडर्माता)
Echinodermata is a phylum of marine animals characterized by an endoskeleton and a water vascular system. These animals are typically bilaterally symmetrical, with a five-part radial symmetry. The phylum includes starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea lilies, among others.
Cnidaria (स्निदरिया)
Cnidaria is a phylum of animals characterized by a stinging cell, or cnidocyte. This phylum includes jellyfish, sea anemones, corals, and hydra. Most cnidarians are predatory, and use their stinging cells to capture prey.
Conclusion (निष्कर्ष)
The animal kingdom is a diverse and fascinating group of organisms. Each phylum exhibits unique characteristics that make them easily identifiable, and phylogenetic studies help us trace their evolutionary history. By studying the animal kingdom, we gain a better understanding of the complex and interrelated relationships between organisms.
