Non-Chordates
Animals without a notochord, an elastic rod-like structure that supports the body, are known as non-chordates. A tiny group of marine animals that resemble worms and are organized at the organ-system level make up this phylum. Non-chordates comprise the phyla Porifera, Coelenterata, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, and Hemichordata.
Characteristics of Non-Chordates:
Non-Chordates have the following general identifying characteristics:
- They are animals that are cylindric, triploblastic, coelomate, or pseudocoelomate.
- These creatures breathe through their gills, trachea, or body surface.
- Most of the time, members cannot be separated based on gender.
- Both sexual and asexual reproductive methods are available.
- Although certain animals also experience internal fertilization, fertilization is external in nature.
- Non-chordates typically have an open circulatory system in their bodies.
Classification of Animal Kingdom
The classification of the animal kingdom is the process of classifying animals in a hierarchy. A predetermined number of levels, such as kingdom, family, or genus, form the basis of the ranking system. Depending on the goal of the categorization, the basis for that classification may change. A biological classification typically uses evolutionary and morphological similarities as its foundation.
Table of Content
- Animal Kingdom: Basis of Classification
- Animal Kingdom Classification
- Chordates
- Non-Chordates
- FAQs on Classification of Animal Kingdom