Animal Kingdom

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Taxonomic hierarchy Noun

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[tak-suh-nom-ik hai-uh-raar-kee]

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Taxonomic hierarchy

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A system of classifying organisms in a series of ordered levels from the most general to most specific.

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Example: This diagram shows the taxonomic hierarchy, a system that organizes living things into levels, from the most general (Life) to the most specific (Species).

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Binomial nomenclature Noun

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[bai-noh-mee-uhl noh-muhn-klay-cher]

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Binomial nomenclature

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The two-word scientific naming system for organisms, which consists of the Genus and the Species names.

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Example: This image shows that binomial nomenclature is a two-part scientific naming system, using the tiger (Panthera tigris) to show the Genus and Species names.

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Eukaryote Noun

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[yoo-kar-ee-oht]

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Eukaryote

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An organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, distinguishing it from a prokaryote.

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Example: This diagram shows an animal cell, a type of eukaryotic cell, characterized by its membrane-bound nucleus and other complex organelles like mitochondria and the Golgi complex.

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Heterotroph Noun

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[het-er-uh-trof]

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Heterotroph

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An organism that cannot produce its own food and must ingest other organisms for energy and nutrients.

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Example: A heterotroph gets energy by eating other organisms. In this food chain, the grasshopper, frog, snake, and hawk are all examples of heterotrophs.

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Radial symmetry Noun

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[ray-dee-uhl sim-i-tree]

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Radial symmetry

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A body plan in which body parts are arranged in a circle around a central point or axis.

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Example: A starfish has body parts arranged around a central axis, so it can be divided into similar halves by multiple planes, demonstrating radial symmetry.

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Bilateral symmetry Noun

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[bai-lat-er-uhl sim-i-tree]

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Bilateral symmetry

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A body plan where a single line can divide an organism into distinct right and left mirror-image halves.

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Example: A dashed line divides the butterfly into two identical, mirror-image halves, demonstrating the concept of bilateral symmetry in an animal.

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Cephalization Noun

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[sef-uh-luh-zey-shuhn]

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Cephalization

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The concentration of sensory organs and nerve cells at the anterior, or front, end of an animal's body.

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Example: This image does not explain cephalization. It shows a highly detailed and complex diagram of the anatomical structures, like pharyngeal arches, in an embryo's head.

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Invertebrate Noun

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[in-vur-tuh-brit]

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Invertebrate

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An animal that does not have a backbone or vertebral column, comprising the vast majority of animal species.

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Example: This image shows several different groups of invertebrates, such as mollusks, arthropods, and worms, which are all animals that do not have a backbone.

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Vertebrate Noun

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[vur-tuh-brit]

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Vertebrate

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An animal that possesses an internal skeleton with a backbone, which is composed of individual vertebrae.

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Example: Vertebrates are animals with a backbone and are divided into five major classes: mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, and amphibians, as shown by the examples.

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Exoskeleton Noun

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[ek-soh-skel-i-tn]

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Exoskeleton

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A hard, external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, commonly found in arthropods like insects.

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Example: This image shows that an exoskeleton is a hard, external covering on an animal, like a suit of armor, that provides protection and support.