Characteristics of the Five Kingdoms

An American taxonomist Robert H. Whittaker has proposed five kingdom classification of living organism in 1969. He divided the living organism on the basis of –

  • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic
  • Unicellular and multicellular
  • Mode of nutrition
  • Source of nutrition-autotrophic and heterotrophic
  • Ecological lifestyle like producers, consumers and decomposer. 
  • Phylogenetic relationships.


In the five kingdom classification the sequences of the kingdom are:

1. Monera - different types of bacteria including bacillus, cocci, spirillum etc.

2. Protista - protozoans,

3. Fungi - penicillium, yeast, basidiomycetes etc.

4. Plantae/metaphors – algae, Bryophytes, pteridophyta, gymnosperms, angiosperms.

5. Animaliae/metazoan – nonchordate (Poriferan, cnidaria, platyhelminthes, nematoda, annelida, mollusca, arthropoda, echinodermata) and chordates are fish, amphibians, reptiles, Aves, mammals.

It is thought that Monera has given rise to the protists and protists give rise to the rest three kingdom of multicellular organism called fungi, plantae, Animalia.


Characteristics of Monera:

1. Organisms are prokaryotic as they do not have well defined nucleus and single cell.

2. Cell wall may or may not be present in Monera.

3. Their nutrition may be autotrophic or heterotrophic. e.g. autotrophic are cyanobacteria (they can synthesis their own food), bacteria and mycoplasma.


Characteristics of protista:

1. Protists are unicellular.

2. They are eukaryotes as they have well defined nucleus membrane bound organelles.

3. Some of them have similarities with plant (diatom) and some of them are similar like animals(protozoans, amoeba)

4. They may be autotrophic or heterotrophic.

5. They have locomotory organs like cillia, flagella, and pseudopodia.


Characteristics of Fungi:

1. They are multicellular means made up of more than one cell. 

2. Contain well defined nucleus and membrane bound organelles (eukaryotes).

3. They do not contain any chlorophyll, thus they are heterotrophic in nature.

4. Cell wall is made up of chitin Rhizopus, Agaricus etc.

5. They are mainly depending dead animals and plants for their nutrition.


Characteristics of plantae:

1. Multicellular organism.

2. Eukaryotic in nature.

3. Containing cell wall which is made up of cellulose.

4. Maximum plants are autotrophic in nature. As they contain chlorophyll, they are able to make photosynthesis and prepare their own food.

5. This kingdom can be subdivided into five groups- thalophyta (Spirogyra, blue green algae), bryophyte( Moss), pteridophyta (fern), gymnosperms (pynus, cicus) and angiosperms (mango, peepal).


Characteristics of animaliae

1. Multicellular and most complex body system.

2. Eukaryotic in nature.

3. They   do not have cell wall.

4. They can not make their own food.So, they are heterotroph in nature.

5. Animals are mainly divided into two- invertebrates and vertebrates. Vertebrates contain notochord, nerve chord, trophoblastic, coelomate, gill slits in the pharynx and having closed circulatory system. It is subdivided into Pisces (shark, hilsa), Amphibians (frog, toad), Reptilia (lizard, snakes), Aves (crow, parrot), Mammalia (dog, cow, man).

6. On the others nonchordate does not contain notochord and nerve chord. They can be categorize into – Poriferan (sponges), Cnidaria (Hydra), platyhelminthes (tape worm), nematodes (hook worm), annelid (earth worm), arthropods (houefly, cockroach), mollusca (snail), echinodermata (star fish).


Questions

1. What are the division of arthropods?

Crustaceans (crab), Myriapods (millipedes), Insecta (housefly), Arachnid (spider).


2. Is whale a fish or mammal?

Whale is an aquatic mammal. As it gives birth to the young ones and suckles them. They have lungs to breathe.


3. Why do we classify organism?

Organisms vary in shape size etc. It is very difficult to study and examine each and every organism individually. So, classification is useful.







From Characteristics of the Five Kingdoms to HOME PAGE

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


Recent Articles

  1. Respiratory Volumes and Capacities | Tidal Volume | Dead Space

    Aug 29, 25 05:17 PM

    Respiratory Volumes
    Explain respiratory volumes and capacities: Tidal Volume - Tidal volume is the volume of air inspired or expired in relaxed or resting position. Amount of tidal volume is about 500 m and it consists o…

    Read More

  2. Mechanism of Breathing | Definition of Inspiration and Expiration

    Aug 17, 25 11:41 PM

    Pressure in Lungs
    Breathing is the process which is accomplished in three states that is inspiration expiration and pause . Definition of inspiration - Entry of air into the lungs from outside during breathing is calle…

    Read More

  3. Human Respiratory System | External Nares | Nasal Cavity | Pharynx

    Aug 04, 25 03:14 PM

    Lungs
    Definition of respiration - This is the process of making energy available to organisms and their living cells through enzyme controlled catabolic breakdown of organic molecules. The organic materials…

    Read More

  4. Disorders of Digestive System | Symptoms of Jaundice | Vomiting |

    Jul 16, 25 12:18 PM

    Symptoms of Diarrhoea
    Jaundice- It is a disease that occurs due to Umesh discoloration of the skin due to deposition of bilirubin and biliverdin pigment. Jaundice can be offered according to the different position like pre…

    Read More

  5. Absorption of Digested Products | Absorption of Water | Nephrons

    Jul 09, 25 02:24 PM

    Villus
    Food and water is observed in different parts of the body and is distributed in different cells and tissues. Absorption of food is observed to be observed in the small intestine in the specific type o…

    Read More