Characteristics of the Five Kingdoms - GCSE Biology

Characteristics of the Five Kingdoms - GCSE Biology

1. Animalia

   • Characteristics
     • No cell wall
     • Multicellular
     • Heterotrophic feeder
     • No chlorophyll - do not photosynthesise
   • Examples
     • Jellyfish
     • Worms
     • Arthropods
     • Echinoderms
     • Fish
     • Amphibia
     • Reptiles
     • Birds
     • Mammals

2. Plantae

   • Characteristics
     • Cellulose cell wall
     • Autotrophic
     • Photosynthesise - have chlorophyll
     • Do not move
     • Have nuclei
   • Examples
     • Algae
     • Mosses
     • Conifers
     • Flowering plants

3. Fungi

   • Examples
     • Moulds
     • Mushrooms
     • Yeast
     • Puffballs
     • Shelf/bracket fungi
   • Characteristics
     • Chitin cell wall
     • Reproduce using spores
     • Feed saprophytically - off dead matter
     • Have nuclei
     • Most cannot move

4. Protoctista

   • Examples
     • Amoeba
     • Paramecium
     • Diatom
   • Characteristics
     • Usually unicellular
       • Can be multicellular, e.g. kelp
     • Eukaryotic - have a nucleus
     • Some can move (cilia, flagella, pseudopodia) while others cannot
     • Mainly live in aquatic environments

5. Prokaryotae

   • Characteristics
     • Peptidoglycan cell wall
     • No nucleus
     • Non-membrane bound
     • Microscopic
   • Examples
     • Bacteria
     • Cyanobacteria
     • Blue-green algae