Animal
Animal
Animal (/ˈænɪməl/; from Latin animalis meaning 'having breath') is a biological classification of living organisms that includes all members of the kingdom Animalia.
Etymology
The word "animal" comes from the Latin animalis, meaning 'having breath', 'having soul' or 'living being'. The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the kingdom Animalia, encompassing creatures as diverse as sponges, jellyfish, insects, and humans.
Definition
In scientific terms, animals are complex multicellular organisms that have the capacity for locomotion, rapid response to stimulation, and the consumption of organic material. Animals are also characterized by their varied means of reproduction, whether sexual or asexual, and their ability to produce offspring that are capable of the same functions.
Classification
Animals are classified under the kingdom Animalia, which is further divided into several phyla. These include the Porifera (sponges), Cnidaria (jellyfish), Arthropoda (insects, spiders, and crustaceans), Chordata (vertebrates), and many others. Each phylum is further divided into classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
Related Terms
- Vertebrate: An animal of the large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.
- Invertebrate: An animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, etc. The invertebrates constitute an artificial division of the animal kingdom, comprising 95% of animal species and about 30 different phyla.
- Mammal: A warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young.
- Reptile: A cold-blooded vertebrate of a class that includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and tortoises. They are distinguished by having a dry scaly skin and typically laying soft-shelled eggs on land.
- Amphibian: A cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed (typically) by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Animal
- Wikipedia's article - Animal
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