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ANIMALIA
The kingdom Animalia is the largest, and most complex on earth. It contains more than 1.5 million species, and still, many more to be discovered. Unlike plants and fungi, most animals are mobile, and can walk, run, hop, fly, or swim. Animals have a single digestive system that processes and extracts nutrients from what they eat. Animals have a nervous system that allows them to think, and understand their surroundings. there are nine classes of animal:
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Cnidarians
Segmented Worms
Mollusks
Arthropods
The kingdom is broken down into different groups, making it easier to find animals. First, the kingdom is broken into multiple phyla. If the animal has a backbone, spine, or chord, it belongs in the phylum Chordata. Then comes the class. Class Mammalia contains vertebrate animals that breathe air, and give birth to live young. The order contains the family groups that have similar characteristics. Proboscidea contains trunked mammals. The family contains species that share similar features and behaviors. Elephantidae is a family of large mammals. The genus groups animals the most similar species. Loxodonta contains African Elephants. Within each genus are a number of individual Species. Loxodonta africana is one of the two species in the Genus Loxodonta. The animal's Binomial or Scientific name is broken into to parts; the Genus Name and the Descriptive Name. A species can also be broken into different Subspecies, a rank in which the animal shows a physical difference, but not enough to be considered its own species. L. a. pharaohensis is an extinct subspecies of Loxodonta africana. Occasionally, a species' Binomial name may be changed, although it is very difficult to do so. One reason for this may be that an animal may have been placed in the wrong Genus. A bird may be classified in the genus Periporphyrus when it should have been in the Genus Cardinalis. Another reason may be that the animal has an inappropriate or offensive name. Anophthalmus hitleri, a species of blind cave beetle, was named in honor of Adolf Hitler (before he started the Nazi Party.) This dedication would be considered unacceptable today. However, the name is still used.
ANIMAL SENSES
Most animals have the ability to see, smell, hear, taste and feel. Some animals may have a certain sense that is more powerful than that of most animals. For example, a hawk relies on sharp eyesight to spot prey. Other animals have extra senses. Sharks and Platypuses are able to sense prey by sending out electrical waves.
ANIMAL HABITATS
A Habitat is where an animals lives. There are 10 main habitats on earth:
Tropical
Seasonal Tropical
Desert
Grassland
Temperate
Boreal
Tundra
Ice Sheet
Mountain
Ocean
All animals are built to survive in their surroundings. For example, Penguins were given thick layers of feathers to survive the freezing cold of the Antarctic. While Camels can survive for weeks in the desert. Some animals have adapted to urban habitats. The cliff-dwelling Peregrine has learned to nest on high buildings.
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