CAPF-AC (Assistant Commandant) Exam Study Material : General Science - The Animal Kingdom
CAPF-AC (Assistant Commandant) Exam Study Material : General Science - The Animal Kingdom
General Science
The Animal Kingdom
There are many different types of animals in the world. Many
animals are quite similar to each other. Others are quite different. Animals can
be classified based on their similarities.
Invertebrates Animals without a Backboneor Spinal Column: Vertebrates Animals
with a Backbone or Spinal Column:(All these are those animals are in the phyla
Chordata and the subphyla Vertebrata.)
Invertebrates
Of the million or more animal species in the world, more than 98% are invertebrates. Invertebrates don’t have an internal skeleton made of bone. Many invertebrates have a fluid-filled, hydrostatic skeleton, like the jelly fish or worm. Others have a hard outer shell, like insects and crustaceans. There are many types of invertebrates. The most common invertebrates include the protozoa, annelids, echinoderms, mollusks and arthropods.
Arthropods include insects, crustaceans and arachnids.
(i) Protozoa
Protozoa are simple, single-celled animals. They are the smallest of all animals. Most protozoa are microscopic in size, and can only be seen under a microscope. However, they do breathe, move and reproduce like multicelled animals.
There are several types of protozoa. The amoebas are clear,
shapeless cells. Flagellates have a body shape looking like a hair. Although we
can’t see them, protozoa do a lot for us. Protozoa play a useful role in the
food chain as a source of food for fish and other animals. Some protozoa are
helpful to humans by eating dangerous bacteria. Unfortunately, other protozoa
are parasites and can be harmful to humans by transmitting disease.
Protozoa eat tiny algae and bacteria. Some protozoa absorb food through their
cell membrane. Others surround and engulf their food or have openings to collect
food. They digest their food in stomach-like compartments called vacuoles.
Protozoa take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide through the cell membrane.
Protozoa reproduces by splitting in half.
(ii) Worms and Leeches
There are about 9,000 species of Annelids known today,
including worms and leeches. They can be found almost anywhere in the world.
Annelids have existed on Earth for over 120 million years.
Annelids have bodies that are divided into segments. They have very
well-developed internal organs. One common characteristic of annelids is that
they don’t have any limbs.
Some annelids may have long bristles. Others have shorter bristles and seem smooth, like the earthworm.
There are many types of worms.Commonly known worms include earthworms, roundworms and flatworms. Most worms are small, measuring fractions of an inch to several inches long. Other worms, such as the ribbon worm, can grow up to 100 feet in length. Some worms are considered parasites, in that they live inside the human body.