Introduction
Q. What is Biological Classification of Plants and Animals?
Ans: Biological classification of plants and animals was first proposed by Aristotle on the basis of simple morphological characters. Linnaeus later classified all living organisms into two kingdoms - Plantae and Animalia. Whittaker proposed an elaborate five kingdom classification - Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
Classification
The main criteria of the five kingdom classification were cell structure, body organisation, mode of nutrition and reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships (evolutionary development and diversification of a species).
Image: Five kingdom Classification
Source: NCERT Text Books
At present, the biological classification includes:- 1. Kingdom Monera
2. Kingdom Protista
3. Kingdom Fungi
4. Kingdom Plantae
5. Kingdom Animalia
6. Viruses, Viroids and Lichens
- In the five kingdom classification, bacteria are included in Kingdom Monera.
- Kingdom Protista includes all single-celled eukaryotes such as Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, Euglenoids, Slime-moulds and Protozoans.
- Members of Kingdom Fungi show a great diversity in structures and habitat. Most fungi are saprophytic in their mode of nutrition.
- The plantae includes all eukaryotic chlorophyll-containing organisms. Algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms are included in this group.
- The heterotrophic eukaryotic, multicellular organisms lacking a cell wall are included in the Kingdom Animalia.
- Some acellular organisms like viruses and viroids as well as the lichens are not included in the five kingdom system of classification.
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