Animal Classification

What makes a fish a fish? Do all birds fly? How do we organize animals into

different groups?

What is animal classification?

• Animal classification is how animals are sorted into groups based on common characteristics.

• The groups are arranged from general characteristics (for example, whether an organism is single-celled or multiple-celled) to specific (for example, whether a duck can dive or not).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biological_classification_L_Pengo_vflip.svg

Kingdom Animalia

• The animal kingdom is the kingdom that we belong to.

• Each member of the animal kingdom:– Is made up of many cells– Eats other organisms to get energy– Can move its body– Reacts to stimuli

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/animal.html

Phylum

• The next level of organization after kingdom.• Organized by body structure (symmetry,

segmentation).• There are 35 phyla within the animal kingdom.• Includes vertebrates, or animals with

backbones, and invertebrates, which do not have backbones.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trnov01.htm

Classes

• There are five main classes of vertebrates in the animal kingdom:– Mammals– Birds– Reptiles– Amphibians– Fish

Mammals

• Best-developed brain• Warm-blooded• Live birth• Has fur or hair• Drinks milk• Maternal care

Photo courtesy of Clip Art

Which of these would be classified as a mammal?

• Red-winged blackbird• Bobcat• House fly• Goldfish

If you said a bobcat, you are

correct!

Mammals you might find in Michigan:

• Little Brown Bat• Whitetail deer• Beaver

Other interesting mammals:• The duck-billed platypus and the echidna are

the only mammals that lay eggs.• Bats are the only mammals that can fly!

Birds

• Warm-blooded• Feathers• Beaks• Lays eggs• Flight (usually!)• Hollow bones

Photo courtesy of Clip Art

True or False?

A bird’s active part in breathing is the exhale (breathing out).

True!Unlike humans, birds must consciously

breathe in, while their exhale occurs without effort.

Michigan birds:

• Pileated woodpecker• Mallard duck• Common loon• Eastern bluebird

Other interesting birds:• Emus, ostriches, and penguins cannot fly.• The northern shrike impales its larger prey upon thorns for

ease of eating.• An owl compensates for its immovable eyes by rotating its

head almost completely around.

Reptiles

• Cold-blooded• Scales as skin covering• Claws• Lay eggs (although some snakes do give live

birth!)

Photo courtesy of Clip Art

True or False?

Because reptiles are cold-blooded, they cannot survive the cold Michigan winters.

False!Many reptiles sleep through the winter in a state

called brumation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormancy#Brumation

Michigan reptiles:

• Garter snake• Hognose snake• Five-lined skink (the only lizard in Michigan)

Other interesting reptiles:• The corn snake has a false rattle that it uses as

a defense mechanism.• The king cobra lays its eggs in a nest.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/default.cfm

Amphibians

• Cold-blooded• Breathe through their slimy skin• Live in water or moist habitat

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10438912@N07/8084268885

An example of an amphibian is:

• A lizard• A vampire• A salamander• A rabbit

A salamander is correct.

Amphibians you might find in Michigan:

• Red-backed salamander• Green frog• Spring peeper• American toad

Other interesting amphibians:• The barking tree frog has a call that sounds like a bark.• The red-backed salamander has a home range of just 24

meters.

http://www.tnaqua.org/OurAnimals/Amphibians.aspx?gclid=CNL1qPSO_7ICFegWMgodWnEA6Ahttp://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Plethodon&where-species=cinereus

Fish

• Cold-blooded• Live in water• Have scales• Breathe using gills

Courtesy of Clip Art

True or False?

Fish cannot control how close they are to the surface of the water – they must depend on

the waves to bring them deeper or shallower.

False!Fish control their level of depth by inflating or

deflating their air bladder, which allows them to float (when inflated) or sink.

Michigan fish:

• Rainbow trout• Bluegill• Large-mouth bass• Northern pike

Other interesting fish:• The Sharpnose Puffer inflates itself to appear larger and

more formidable.• The Mushroom Scorpionfish is covered in venomous

spines.http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2h.html