Classification of Living Things

The Five Kingdoms Monera Protoctista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Monera and Protoctista Single-celled Microscopic E.g. Bacteria Algae Amoeba Plasmodium (causes malaria)

Fungi Network of hyphae spread over food. Spores released from end of stalks to reproduce. E.g. Mould Mushrooms Toadstools

Mosses and Liverworts Simple plants with no true roots. Live in damp places as easily desiccated. Mosses have small stems and leaves are one cell thick. Liverworts have no stem, just small root hair cells on the underside of each leaf.

Ferns Simple plants but much bigger than mosses and liverworts. Have small roots, stems and leaves. Stems have transport tissue (xylem and phloem). Reproduce by dropping spores from underside of leaf.

Conifers Trees or shrubs with needle-like leaves. Reproduce by seeds rather than spores but in cones rather than in flowers. Evergreen E.g. Scot’s Pine, Spruce, Larch.

Flowering Plants Trees or shrubs that reproduce using seeds formed in flowers. Can be deciduous or evergreen. Some are “Monocots” e.g. daffodil, spider plant; some are “Dicots” e.g. rose, oak.

Cnidarians “Sack-like body. No skeleton. Stinging tentacles. E.g. Jellyfish Sea Anemone Coral Hydra

Echinoderms Radially symmetrical. Exoskeleton. E.g. Starfish Sea Urchins

Flatworms Hydroskeleton. Usually less than 1cm long. No circulatory system – flat enough to obtain oxygen by diffusion through skin. Can be free living (Planaria)or parasitic (Liver fluke).

Annelids Hydroskeleton. Simple circulatory system. Segmented. E.g. Earthworm Bloodworm Leech

Molluscs Soft body. Locomotion usually by muscular “foot”. Have shells for protection. E.g. Snail Octopus Mussel

Myriapods Many legs. Segmented bodies. Exoskeleton. E.g. Centipede Millipede

Crustaceans 10 legs. Exoskeleton. Jointed legs. 2 pairs of antennae. E.g. Crabs Lobsters Shrimps Woodlice

Arachnids 8 legs. Exoskeleton. Jointed legs. E.g. Tarantula Black Widow Tick Mite

Insects 3 body parts. 2 pairs of wings. Exoskeleton. 6 legs. E.g. Bee Beetle Butterfly

Fish Endoskeleton. Scales. Gills. Cold blooded. Lay eggs that are fertilised externally. E.g. Tuna Shark Herring

Amphibians Endoskeleton. Thin, usually smooth skin. Externally fertilised eggs laid in water. Cold blooded. Aquatic or terrestrial. E.g. Frog Toad Newt Salamander

Reptiles Scaly skin. Cold blooded Eggs are fertilised internally and laid on land. Eggs have soft, leathery shell. E.g. Crocodile Komodo Dragon Iguana Cobra

Birds Endoskeleton. Warm blooded. Feathers and wings. Eggs have hard shell and layed on land. Fertilisation is internal. E.g. Eagle Puffin Ostrich

Mammals Endoskeleton. Warm blooded. Eggs fertilised internally. Give birth to live young. Fur covered skin. E.g. Otter Cheetah Kangaroo