Animal Kingdom and Classification

What this page covers

This unit sits in the Diversity of Life strand of Biology and natural sciences. The resources look at how animals are sorted into groups, and how their bodies work. Many are mind maps, with flashcards, quizzes, slides and notes alongside them.

The span is wide. Some resources are simple, such as the quiz Science Test: Characteristics of Animals, which asks what an animal needs and whether it has a backbone. Others are written for university courses and go phylum by phylum.

Where to start

Begin with the big picture. The mind map Phylum Chordata lists the features chordates share: a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve tube, a tail that extends beyond the anus and a muscular pharynx. It also splits the group into Vertebrata, Cephalochordata and Urochordata.

Then move to the groups you need:

• Vertebrates and invertebrates: several maps, notes and quizzes compare the two.
• Phyla: flashcard decks and maps cover groups such as Cnidaria and Nematoda.
• Physiology: the Animal Physiology mind map covers breathing and gas exchange, including how the intercostal muscles move the ribs.

Using quizzes and maps together

1. Read a mind map slowly and say each branch aloud.
2. Take a quiz on the same group without looking.
3. Note the questions you missed, then go back to the map.
4. Use flashcards for names, features and labelled diagrams.

The quiz Topic 11: Animal Physiology (Labelling drawings) is a good test of this. It asks you to label a sarcomere and a human kidney.

Examples to explore

If you like real animals, the flashcard deck Missouri Mammals describes species such as the American Black Bear and the Bobcat. The slide set Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches lists range, habitat and predators. Some resources mention IB Biology, AP Biology or NEET, so older students can look for those.

Everything here was made by GoConqr users, so styles differ. Pick one unit of work, open a map and see how far you get.