Animal Kingdom - Discover the Animal Kingdom on Earth

Welcome to the wonderful world of animals.

The animal kingdom is divided in two main groups. The invertebrates and the vertebrates.
Look in the table below to discover the wealth of our animal kingdom.

Invertebrates

More than 98% of the animal species in the animal kingdom are invertebrates. Many invertebrates have a hydrostatic skeleton, like jelly fish and worms. Others have an outer skeleton, like insects and spiders. The most common invertebrates include the protozoa, annelids, echinoderms, mollusks and arthropods.

Protozoa

(flagellates, amoeboids, sporozoans)
phyla: Protozoa
Ciliata

Overview of microscopic pond life

Echinoderms

(starfish, sea cucumbers, urchins)
phyla: Echinodermata

Introduction to the Echinodermata

Annelids

(earthworms, flatworms, leeches)
phyla: Annelida
Polychaeta

The biology of annelids

Mollusks

(clams, octopusses, snails)
phyla: Mollusca
Flame scallop

All about mollusks

Arthropods

(crabs, spiders, insects)
phyla: Arthropoda
Land hermit crab

Vertebrates

Of all animals in the animal kingdom only 2% are vertebrates. Vertebrates have an internal skeleton made of bone. Most vertebrates are well known. The most common vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Because of their size and mobility vertebrates are dominant in their environment.