KINGDOMS  OF  LIVING  THINGS
IN  THE  LINNAEAN  CLASSIFICATION  SYSTEM
KINGDOM STRUCTURAL
ORGANIZATION		 METHOD OF
NUTRITION		 TYPES OF
ORGANISMS		 KNOWN
SPECIES
1.   Monera * small, simple single prokaryotic cell (nucleus is not enclosed by a membrane); some form chains or mats absorb food bacteria, blue-green algae, and spirochetes
 10,000+
2.   Protista large, single eukaryotic cell (nucleus is enclosed by a membrane); some form chains or colonies absorb, ingest, and/or photosynthesize food protozoans and algae of various types 250,000+
3.   Fungi multicellular filamentous form with specialized eukaryotic cells absorb food funguses, molds, mushrooms, yeasts, mildews, and smuts 100,000+
4.   Plantae multicellular form with specialized eukaryotic cells; do not have their own means of locomotion photosynthesize food mosses, ferns, woody and non-woody flowering plants 250,000+
5.   Animalia multicellular form with specialized eukaryotic cells; have their own means of locomotion ingest food sponges, worms, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals 1,000,000+

 

*    A growing number of researchers now divide the Monera into two distinct kingdoms: Eubacteria (the true bacteria) and Archaebacteria (bacteria-like organisms that live in extremely harsh anaerobic environments such as hot springs, deep ocean volcanic vents, sewage treatment plants, and swamp sediments). Viruses, prions, and other non-cellular entities are not included in the five kingdoms.

 

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This page was last updated on Thursday, July 26, 2001.
Copyright © 1998, 2000 by Dennis O'Neil. All rights reserved.