CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING THINGS (TAXONOMY)

The systemic grouping of organisms (living things) together on the basis of features (such as
anatomy, physiological and genetic composition) they have in common is known as taxonomy
Biologists classify organisms into the following hierarchy of groups:
Kingdom
Phylum (animals)/Division (plants)
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
The specie is the smallest unit of classification. Individuals within a species are identical in
general appearance. They can mate/interbreed freely with one another and produce fertile
offspring.
The Binomial Nomenclature
This is a system of classification in which each organism is given 2 names. The first name refers
to the Genus to which the organism belongs. It always starts with a capital letter. The second
name is the specie name & it starts with a small letter.
e.g.
1. Rice Oryza sativa
2. Maize Zea mays
3. Housefly Musca domestica
4. Dog Canis familiaris
5. Humans Homo sapiens

TAXONOMY OF KINGDOMS
Carolus Linnaeus a Swedish naturalist DEVELOPED THE binomial numeclature and therefore
grouped organisms into 5 kingdoms:
1. Monera (Prokaryotes)

1
2. Protista (Protists)
3. Fungi (singular fungus)
4. Plantae (Plants)
5. Animalia (Animals)
Kingdom Monera
The bacteria and blue-green algae (e.g. Oscillatoria, Anabaena & Nostoc) make up this kingdom.
-They are microscopic organisms.
-They are made up of single prokaryotic cells enclosed within rigid cellulose cell walls.
-The cell structure is simple.
-There is no definite nucleus; and chromosomes lie free in a particular part of the cell.
Kingdom Protista
These are single-celled organisms. They are made up of eukaryotic cells in which the cell
structure is complex with a well-defined nucleus.
a). Phylum Protophyta: Plant-like protists e.g. diatoms, Chlamydomonas, chlorella, etc. They
have cellulose cell walls & chloroplasts.
b). Phylum Protozoa: Animal-like protists. They feed on ready-made food; and have no
cellulose cell walls, e.g. Amoeba, Euglena, Trypanosome, Paramecium, Plasmodium, etc

KINGDOM FUNGI
i. Fungi are non-green plants (i.e. they lack chlorophyll).
ii. They are eukaryotes and multicellular organisms.
iii. They have no true roots, stems and leaves.
iv. They are mainly saprophytes while others are parasites.
v. The vegetative body (hypha) is collectively known as mycelium.
vi. Carbohydrates are stored in form of glycogen as in animals, e.g. mushrooms, Penicillium,
toadstools, bread mould (Rhizopus), slime moulds, yeast, Aspergillus, etc.

KINGDOM PLANTAE

2
This includes Thallophyta, Bryophyta and Tracheophyta (Pteridophyta & Spermatophyta).
i). Division Thallophyta (Algae)
They are simple green aquatic plants. They have thread-like (filamentous) or flat (thallus) bodies
that do not have roots, stems or leaves, e.g. green algae (spirogyra, etc.); red &brown algae.
ii). Division Bryophyta (e.g. liverworts and mosses)
Live mainly in damp, shady places. No vascular tissues, i.e. no xylem and phloem. Body is a
thallus, or differentiated into simple ‘leaves’ and ‘stems’. No true roots, stems or leaves.
Sporophyte is attached to, and dependent upon, the gametophyte for its nutrition. Spores are
produced by the sporophyte in a spore capsule on the end of a slender stalk above the
gametophyte.
iii. Division Pteridophyta (ferns)
Gametophyte is reduced to a small, simple prothallus. Vascular tissues present in sporophyte:
sporophyte therefore has true roots, stems and leaves. Leaves relatively large and are called
fronds. Spores produced in sporangia which are usually in clusters called sori.
NB The seed plants (spermatophytes) are divided into gymnosperms and angiosperms.
iv. Division Gymnospermophyta
These are plants with naked seeds; they do not bear flowers. The seeds are borne in cones, e.g.
cycads, gingkos and conifers (e.g. pine, fir and spruce).
v. Division Angiospermophyta
These are the flowering plants. Seeds are protected within fruits.
The (2) classes of ‘Angiosperms’ are:
Class Dicotyledoneae (e.g. cowpea, pawpaw, etc.)
Seeds have 2 seed leaves/cotyledons. Vascular bundles are arranged in rings. Floral(flower) parts
exist in 4s and 5s. Leaves have net venation. They have a tap root system. They usually undergo
secondary growth.
Class Monocotyledoneae (e.g. maize, yam, etc.)
Seeds have one cotyledon. Vascular bundles (of stem) scattered. Floral parts exist in groups of 3
or multiples of 3. Leaves have parallel venation. They have fibrous root system. No secondary
growth.

KINGDOM ANIMALIA

3
Animals are put into 2 main groups:
-Invertebrates: animals without backbone,
-Vertebrates: animals with backbone.

Characteristics of Invertebrates
1). Phylum Porifera (sponges)
They:
-are sessile/non-motile and are usually fixed in one position;
-are primitive multicellular animals with asymmetrical bodies;
-live in colonies, hence, they lack specialised tissues;
-are hermaphrodites(=have both male and female reproductive organs);
-reproduce sexually or asexually (by budding).
2). Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria)
 Body is radially symmetrical (=can be cut along its axis in any plane to give 2 identical
halves). The body wall is made up of 2 layers: ectoderm and endoderm (=diploblastic).
 They have a set of tentacles that enable them to capture their prey.
 Stinging cells/nematocysts are found on the tentacles.
 They reproduce asexually (budding) and sexually e.g. Hydra, jelly fish, sea anemones and
corals.
3). Phylum Platyhelminthes
 They are multicellular flat worms; -are triploblastic acoelomates (lack body cavity).
 Body is unsegmented
 They show bilateral symmetry (= body can be cut along its axis in only one plane to give
2 identical halves, the right and left sides).
 Digestive system has only a single opening.
 Reproduction is both sexual and asexual. (Majority are hermaphrodites),e.g. planaria,
tape worm, flukes.
4) Phylum Nematoda (round worms)
 They possess unsegmented, cylindrical bodies;
 They have bilateral symmetry & are triploblastic;
 They possess false body cavity (pseudoceolom);
 Presence of gut with 2 openings (mouth & anus).
 They reproduce sexually, e.g. Round worm (Ascaris), hookworms, filarial worms, Guinea
worms, thread worms, etc.

4
5). Phylum Annelida
 Annelids have a segmented body.
 Bilateral symmetry & triploblastic.
 They are coelomates (= have a true body cavity).
 They reproduce sexually (Individuals may be male, female or hermaphroditic) e.g.
earthworm, leeches, etc.
6). Phylum Arthropoda
It is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom.
Arthropods have:
i) (Metamerically) segmented bodies
ii) jointed appendages
iii) exoskeleton made of chitin
iv) they exhibit moulting/ecdysis (=shed their exoskeleton at intervals to permit growth).
i). Super class Crustacea
The head and thorax are fused together to form a cephalothorax. They have 2 pairs of antennae
and a pair of compound eyes that are raised on stalks, e.g. crabs, prawn, crayfish, shrimps,
barnacles.
ii). Class Insecta
They have:- 3 pairs of walking legs;- a pair of antennae.
Body is divided into 3 parts/head, thorax and abdomen. One or 2 pairs of wings may be found on
the thorax. Gaseous exchange is by tracheae, e.g. butterflies, bees, etc.
iii) Class Chilopoda (centipedes)
iv). Class Diplopoda (millipedes)
v). Class Arachnida
They have: -4 pairs of walking legs; - simple eyes and no antenna. Body is divided into 2 parts: a
cephalothorax and abdomen. Most arachnids breathe using tracheae or book-lungs, e.g. spiders,
scorpions, mites and ticks.
7). Phylum Mollusca
 They have soft unsegmented body with either an outer shell (oyster, clams, snails), an
internal shell (octopus, squids) or no shell at all (slugs);
 They possess eyes and tentacles for sensitivity;
 They have muscular foot for locomotion. Body is covered by a soft tissue or mantle (this
secretes the shell).
 They reproduce sexually. The sexes are usually separate; some (e.g. oysters) are
hermaphrodites.

5
8). Phylum Echinodermata
 They have spiny skin.
 The adults usually have radial symmetry.
 They are mainly marine animals.
 No head and brain, and are not segmented.
 They have tube feet for locomotion.
 They have an exoskeleton made up of calcareous plates e.g. starfish, sea urchins, sea
cucumbers.

VERTEBRATES
9. Phylum Chordata
Most chordates are called vertebrates, in which the notochord is replaced by a backbone. They
belong to the subphylum vertebrata.
Characteristics of the Classes of Vertebrates
1). Class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) e.g. sharks, rays, dogfish, skates.
2). Class Osteichthyes (bony fishes)
 They have 2 –chambered heart. Fishes are cold-blooded or poikilothermic.
 Body is covered with overlapping scales.
 They move through water using caudal/tail fins.
 They breathe through gills, which are protected by the operculum/gill cover.
 Lateral line system (for detecting movements and changes in water pressure).
 Fertilisation is usually external.
 They have a swim bladder for buoyancy in water.
 They show parental care e.g. Tilapia, herring, etc.
NB Fishes, amphibians & reptiles are cold-blooded.
3). Class Amphibia
 They have 2 pairs of limbs (adults).
 They have moist skin which is naked (=no scales).
 They have middle and inner ears.
 They have a heart with 3 –chambers (2As + 1V).
 They have stout bodies with powerful hindlimbs and webbed digits for swimming.
 Fertilization is external.
 No parental care e.g. frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.
4). Class Reptilia
 Skin is covered with dry horny scales.

6
  Most reptiles are oviparous (=lay eggs) although some species of lizards are viviparous
(=give birth to live young).
 Fertilization is internal.
 They have a 3–chambered heart (except crocodiles).
 They have homodont dentition.
 They have inner & middle ears.
 Paired fore- and hind limbs are present (except snakes), each with 5 toes ending in claws.
 No parental care e.g. lizards, snakes, crocodiles & turtles.
5). Class Aves (birds)
 They are warm-blooded (homoiothermic) vertebrates.
 The head, neck & trunk are covered with feathers; the hind legs with scales (a reptilian
feature).
 Fore limbs are modified into wings for flying. (Hind legs have feet, each with 4 toes
ending in claws).
 They have (toothless) beak for feeding.
 Fertilization is internal.
 They are oviparous.
 They show parental care e.g. ostrich, duck, fowl.
NB Aves & mammals have a 4 –chambered heart (2As + 2Vs) and breathe using lungs.
6). Class Mammalia
 They are warm-blooded animals. Skin has sweat and sebaceous glands and a covering of
hair/fur.
 They have heterodont dentition. External ears or pinnae (sing. Pinna) present.
 Body cavity is separated into 2 (upper thoracic & lower abdominal cavities) by a
muscular sheet (diaphragm).
 They have well-developed brains. Fertilization is internal. Most mammals (except
monotremes) are viviparous.
 Females have mammary glands which produce milk to feed their young
 e.g. duck-billed platypus, spiny anteater or echidna (monotremes); kangaroo, koala
(marsupials); humans, whale, bat, dolphin, rat (placental mammals).