animal

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement marked by the appetites and passions of the body

"animal instincts"

"carnal knowledge"

"fleshly desire"

"a sensual delight in eating"

"music is the only sensual pleasure without vice"

For the Muppet Show character, see Animal (Muppet). For the professional wrestlingprofessional wrestler, see Joseph Laurinaitis''.pink name = Animals caption = Sea nettles, ''Chrysaora quinquecirrha'' pink EukaryoteEukaryota Animalia
Carolus LinnaeusLinnaeus date = 1758 Taxobox_end_placement pink plural_taxon = Phyla

SpongePorifera (sponges)

Ctenophora (comb jellies)

Cnidaria

TrichoplaxPlacozoa

Subregnum Bilateria

*Acoelomorpha

*Orthonectida

*Rhombozoa

*Myxozoa

*Superphylum DeuterostomeDeuterostomia

**ChordateChordata (vertebrates, etc.)

**Hemichordata (acorn worms)

**Echinodermata

**Chaetognatha (arrow worms)

*Superphylum Ecdysozoa

**Kinorhyncha

**Loricifera

**Priapulida

**Nematoda (roundworms)

**Nematomorpha (horsehair worms)

**Onychophora (velvet worms)

**Tardigrada (water bears)

**Arthropoda (insects, etc.)

*Superphylum Platyzoa

**Platyhelminthes (flatworms)

**Gastrotricha

**Rotifera (rotifers)

**Acanthocephala

**Gnathostomulida (jaw worms)

**Micrognathozoa

**Cycliophora

*Superphylum Lophotrochozoa

**Sipuncula (peanut worms)

**Nemertea (ribbon worms)

**Phoronida

**Ectoprocta (moss animals)

**Entoprocta

**Brachiopoda

**Mollusca (mollusks)

**Annelida (segmented worms)Taxobox_end Animals are a major group of organisms, classified as the kingdom (biology)kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. In general they are multicellular, capable of locomotion and responsive to their environment, and feed by consuming other organisms. Their body plan becomes fixed as they develop, usually early on in their ontogenydevelopment as embryos, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis (biology)metamorphosis later on. Human beings are classified as members of the animal kingdom.Kingdom Animalia has several characteristics that set it apart from other living things. First, animals are eukaryotic. This separates them from the MoneraKingdom Monera. Second, animals are multicellular, which separates them from Kingdom Protista. Third, they are heterotrophic, setting them apart from Kingdom Plantae and several plant-like protists. Finally, Kingdom Animalia consists of organisms without cell walls, which makes it unique compared to Kingdom Plantae, algae, and FungiKingdom Fungi. Aristotle divided the living world between animals and plants, and this was followed by Carolus Linnaeus in the first hierarchical classification. Since then biologists have begun emphasizing evolutionary relationships, and so these groups have been restricted somewhat. For instance, microscopic protozoa were originally considered animals because they move, but are now treated separately. Colloquially, and in some religions, humans are considered separate from animals (on account of their unique abilities of speech and advanced thought or the view that they are the chosen representatives of a deity), but they belong together by current biological and Taxonomytaxonomical standards. The name animal comes from the Latin word ''animal'', of which ''animalia'' is the plural, and ultimately from ''anima'', meaning vital breath or soul.

Structure - With a few exceptions, most notably the sponges (Phylum Porifera), animals have bodies differentiated into separate biological tissuetissues. These include muscles, which are able to contract and control locomotion, and a nervous system, which sends and processes signals. There is also typically an internal digestiondigestive chamber, with one or two openings. Animals with this sort of organization are called metazoans, or eumetazoans when the former is used for animals in general.All animals have eukaryoteeukaryotic cells, surrounded by a characteristic extracellular matrix composed of collagen and elastic glycoproteins. This may be calciumcalcified to form structures like shells, bones, and spicules. During development it forms a relatively flexible framework upon which cells can move about and be reorganized, making complex structures possible. In contrast, other multicellular organisms like plants and fungusfungi have cells held in place by cell walls, so develop by progressive growth. Also, unique to animal cells are the following intercellular junctions: tight junctions, gap junctions, and desmosomes.

Reproduction and development - Nearly all animals undergo some form of sexual reproduction. Adults are diploid or occasionally polyploid. They have a few specialized reproductive cells, which undergo meiosis to produce smaller motile spermatozoonspermatozoa or larger non-motile ovumova. These fuse to form zygotes, which develop into new individuals.Many animals are also capable of asexual reproduction. This may take place through parthenogenesis, where fertile eggs are produced without mating, or in some cases through fragmentation.A zygote initially develops into a hollow sphere, called a blastula, which undergoes rearrangement and differentiation. In sponges, blastula larvae swim to a new location and develop into a new sponge. In most other groups, the blastula undergoes more complicated rearrangement. It first invaginates to form a gastrula with a digestive chamber, and two separate germ layers - an external ectoderm and an internal endoderm. In most cases, a mesoderm also develops between them. These germ layers then differentiate to form tissues and organs.Animals grow by indirectly using the energy of sunlight. Plants use this energy to turn air into simple sugars using a process known as photosynthesis. These sugars are then used as the building blocks which allow the plant to grow. When animals eat these plants (or eat other animals which have eaten plants), the sugars produced by the plant are used by the animal. They are either used directly to help the animal grow, or broken down, releasing stored solar energy, and giving the animal the energy required for motion. This process is known as glycolysis.

Origin and fossil record - Animals are generally considered to have evolved from flagellate protozoa. Their closest living relatives are the choanoflagellates, collared flagellates that have the same structure as certain sponge cells do. Molecular studies place them in a supergroup called the opisthokonts, which also include the fungusfungi and a few small parasitic protists. The name comes from the posterior location of the flagellum in motile cells, such as most animal sperm, whereas other eukaryotes tend to have anterior flagella.The first fossils that might represent animals appear towards the end of the Precambrian, around 600 million years ago, and are known as the Vendian biota. These are difficult to relate to later fossils, however. Some may represent precursors of modern phyla, but they may be separate groups, and it is possible they are not really animals at all. Aside from them, most animal phyla with known phyla make a more or less simultaneous appearance during the Cambrian period, about 570 million years ago. It is still disputed whether this event, called the Cambrian explosion, represents a rapid divergence between different groups or a change in conditions that made fossilization possible.

Groups of animals - The sponges (Porifera) diverged from other animals early. As mentioned, they lack the complex organization found in most other phyla. Their cells are differentiated, but not organized into distinct tissues. Sponges are sessile and typically feed by drawing in water through pores all over the body, which is supported by a skeleton typically divided into spicules. The extinct Archaeocyatha, which have fused skeletons, may represent sponges or a separate phylum.Among the eumetazoan phyla, two are radially symmetric and have digestive chambers with a single opening, which serves as both the mouth and the anus. These are the Cnidaria, which include anemones, corals, and jellyfish, and the Ctenophora or comb jellies. Both have distinct tissues, but they are not organized into organ (anatomy)organs. There are only two main germ layers, the ectoderm and endoderm, with only scattered cells between them. As such, these animals are sometimes called diploblastic. The tiny phylum Placozoa is similar, but individuals do not have a permanent digestive chamber.The remaining animals form a monophyletic group called the Bilateria. For the most part, they are bilaterally symmetric, and often have a specialized head with feeding and sensory organs. The body is triploblastic, i.e. all three germ layers are well-developed, and tissues form distinct organs. The digestive chamber has two openings, a mouth and an anus, and there is also an internal body cavity called a coelom or pseudocoelom. There are exceptions to each of these characteristics, however - for instance adult echinoderms are radially symmetric, and certain parasitic worms have extremely simplified body structures.Genetic studies have considerably changed our understanding of the relationships within the Bilateria. Most appear to belong to four major lineages:# Deuterostomes# Ecdysozoa# Platyzoa# LophotrochozoaIn addition to these, there are a few small groups of bilaterians with relatively similar structure that appear to have diverged before these major groups. These include the Acoelomorpha, Rhombozoa, and Orthonectida. The Myxozoa, single-celled parasites that were originally considered Protozoa, are now believed to have developed from the Bilateria as well.

Deuterostomes - Deuterostomes differ from the other Bilateria, called protostomes, in several ways. In both cases there is a complete digestive tract. However, in protostomes the initial opening (the archenteron) develops into the mouth, and an anus forms separately. In deuterostomes this is reversed. In most protostomes cells simply fill in the interior of the gastrula to form the mesoderm, called schizocoelous development, but in deuterostomes it forms through evagination of the endoderm, called enterocoelic pouching. Deuterostomes also have a dorsal, rather than a ventral, nerve chord and their embryos undergo different cleavage.All this suggests the deuterostomes and protostomes are separate, monophyletic lineages. The main phyla of deuterostomes are the Echinodermata and ChordateChordata. The former are radially symmetric and exclusively marine, such as sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. The latter are dominated by the vertebrates, animals with backbones. These include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.In addition to these, the deuterostomes also include the Hemichordata or acorn worms. Although they are not especially prominent today, the important fossil graptolites may belong to this group. The Chaetognatha or arrow worms may also be deuterostomes, but this is less certain.

Ecdysozoa - The Ecdysozoa are protostomes, named after the common trait of growth by moulting or ecdysis. The largest animal phylum belongs here, the Arthropoda, including insects, spiders, crabs, and their kin. All these organisms have a body divided into repeating segments, typically with paired appendages. Two smaller phyla, the Onychophora and Tardigrada, are close relatives of the arthropods and share these traits.The ecdysozoans also include the Nematoda or roundworms, the second largest animal phylum. Roundworms are typically microscopic, and occur in nearly every environment where there is water. A number are important parasites. Smaller phyla related to them are the Nematomorpha or horsehair worms, which are visible to the unaided eye, and the Kinorhyncha, Priapulida, and Loricifera, which are all microscopic. These groups have a reduced coelom, called a pseudocoelom.The remaining two groups of protostomes are sometimes grouped together as the Spiralia, since in both embryos develop with spiral cleavage.

Platyzoa - The Platyzoa include the phylum Platyhelminthes, the flatworms. These were originally considered some of the most primitive Bilateria, but it now appears they developed from more complex ancestors. A number of parasites are included in this group, such as the flukes and tapeworms. Flatworms lack a coelom, as do their closest relatives, the microscopic Gastrotricha.The other platyzoan phyla are microscopic and pseudocoelomate. The most prominent are the Rotifera or rotifers, which are common in aqueous environments. They also include the Acanthocephala or spiny-headed worms, the Gnathostomulida, Micrognathozoa, and possibly the Cycliophora. These groups share the presence of complex jaws, from which they are called the Gnathifera.

Lophotrochozoa - The Lophotrochozoa include two of the most successful animal phyla, the Mollusca and Annelida. The former includes animals such as snails, clams, and squids, and the latter comprises the segmented worms, such as earthworms and leeches. These two groups have long been considered close relatives because of the common presence of trochophore larvae, but the annelids were considered closer to the arthropods, because they are both segmented. Now this is generally considered convergent evolution, owing to many morphological and genetic differences between the two phyla.The Lophotrochozoa also include the Nemertea or ribbon worms, the Sipuncula, and several phyla that have a fan of cilia around the mouth, called a lophophore. These were traditionally grouped together as the lophophorates, but it now appears they are paraphyletic, some closer to the Nemertea and some to the Mollusca and Annelida. They include the Brachiopoda or lamp shells, which are prominent in the fossil record, the Entoprocta, the Phoronida, and possibly the Ectoprocta or moss animals.

History of classification - In Carolus LinnaeusLinnaeus' original scheme, the animals were one of three kingdoms, divided into the classes of Vermes, Insecta, FishPisces, Amphibia, birdAves, and Mammalia. Since then the last four have all been subsumed into a single phylum, the chordateChordata, whereas the various other forms have been separated out. The above lists represent our current understanding of the group, though there is some variation from source to source.

Usage of the word ''animal'' - In everyday usage ''animal'' refers to any member of the animal kingdom that is not a human being, hence the common phrase ''humans and animals''.

Examples - Some well-known types of animals, listed by their common names:

alpaca, ant, antelope, badger (animal)badger, bat, bear, bee, beetle, bird, bison, butterfly, cat, chicken, cockroach, coral, cattlecow, dinosaur, dog, dolphin, earthworm, elephant, elk, fish, fly, fox, frog, giraffe, goat, gorilla, hippopotamus, horse, human, iguana, jellyfish, kangaroo, lion, lizard, llama, lynx, monkey, mouse, nightingale, octopus, owl, ox, parrot, penguin, pig, quail, rabbit, rat, rhinoceros, salamander, scorpion, hippocampus (fish)seahorse, shark, sheep, sloth, snake, spider, squid, starfish, tiger, turtle, urial, vole, whale, wolf, yak, zebra

See also -

Altruism in animals

Amphibian

Animal intelligence

Animal locomotion

Animal rights

BibleBiblical terms

*Clean animals

*Unclean animals

Biology

Biota

Bird

Fish

Insect

Mammal

Macrofossil

Prehistoric life

Reptile

Zoology

Zoo

External links - Wiktionary wikiquote Commons2Animalia WikispeciesAnimalia dichotomouskeyAnimaliaAnimalia

animool.com - Animals Search Engine

tolweb.org - Tree of Life

arkive.org - A Multimedia Database of Various UK or Endangered Species

!freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.c om - Animals and Birds Names - Large table of words: animal, collective, male, female, young, & home

www273.pair.com - English Animal Adjectives

georgetown.edu - Sounds of the World's Animals - animal sounds in many languages

findsounds.com - FindSounds - Search the Web for Sounds - sound files including animal sound files

animalreviews.com - AnimalReviews - animals reviewed and evaluated

animals.timduru.org - The animal photo archive - Photos of animals

wildlife-photo.org - Photo gallery of animals pictures from the entire world.

wildlife-photo.org - Birds Name Check List in Latin, English, Russian and Hebrew.Category:Animalsaf:Animaliaan:Animalast: Animalbg:Животниbm:Baga nzh-min-nan:Tōng-bu̍tca:Anim alcs:Živočichovécy:Anifaild a:Dyrde:Tiereet:Loomadel:Ζώ� �es:Animaleo:Animalofr:Animalf y:Dierga:Ainmhíko:동물io:An imaloid:Hewania:Animalit:Anima lihe:בעלי? !חייםkw:Enyvalku:Ajalla:Ani malialv:Dzīvniekilt:Gyvūnų? !karalystėlb:Déiereräichmk:� �ивотниms:Haiwannah:Yolk atlnl:Dieren? !(rijk)nds:Beestja:動物nn:dyr no:Dyroc:Animalpl:Zwierzętapt :Animaliaru:Животныеsc n:Armalisimple:Animalsl:Žival isr:Животињаfi:Eläink untasv:Djurth:สัตว์u k:Твариниzh:动物chy:H ova

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Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science
The Post Graduate Foundation is an unbiased provider of continuing veterinary education. Workshops, seminars, major courses, 10 month distance education programs and online courses are provided, as well as veterinary publications.
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Pet Portraits & Animal Art by Abi Cushman
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ANAA - Asociación Nacional Amigos de los Animales
La Asociación Nacional Amigos de los Animales (ANAA) es una Asociación sin ánimo de lucro fundada en 1992 en Madrid (España) como respuesta al elevado número de animales que son abandonados y maltratados en nuestro país y a la deficiente atención de que son objeto por parte de la administración, que hasta el momento se ha limitado a recogerlos y eliminarlos, sin resolver el problema de una manera humanitaria y efectiva.
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RSPCA West Gwynedd Branch
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Animal Planet Channel Online
Information on shows featuring animal stories and cams.
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The Animal Diversity Web
An online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology
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Animalnetwork
Home of Fancy Publications; the leading publisher of magazines and annuals about pets.
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AnmalConcerns.org
Information and FAQs on the animal rights movement.
http://www.animalconcerns.org/

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Part of U.S. Department of Agriculture. Site provides extensive information on animal and plant health/disease topics, USDA regulations, control of invasive species, agricultural chemicals, and related public health issues.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/