Question

Name the largest phylum of Kingdom Animalia.

Answer 1

Hint:R.H. Whittaker classified organisms into five kingdoms; based on cell structure, mode, and source of nutrition and body design. These are - Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Complete Answer:
Kingdom Animalia consists of all animals. It is the largest kingdom among all other kingdoms. It has been classified into ten different subphyla, based on their body designs or differentiations. They are as follows

Arthropoda - Arthropod means jointed legs. This is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom. They are bilaterally symmetrical, have jointed appendages, exoskeleton, and a segmented body. They have well-differentiated organs and an organ system. They have an open circulatory system, but do not have differentiated blood vessels. Examples include – Spiders, butterflies, and mosquitoes.
Porifera - means organisms with holes. They are commonly known as Sponges.
Coelenterata (Cnidaria) - The term Coelenterates has been derived from the Greek word “kilos” which means hollow-bellied. They have a hollow body cavity.
Platyhelminthes - Platyhelminthes are commonly known as flatworms. They have a dorsoventrally flattened body.
Nematoda - It consists of nematodes or roundworms. They have a cylindrical, bilaterally symmetrical body and are triploblastic.
Annelida - Annelids are commonly known as segmented or ringed worms. They have a segmented cylindrical body. Their body is differentiated into head and tail.
Mollusca - They are Bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic; have a less segmented body, and a well-developed organ system. They typically possess an open circulatory system, along with Limbs.
Echinodermata - The term Echinodermata is derived from the Greek words, echinos which means hedgehog and derma which means skin. Thus, echinoderms are spiny-skinned animals. They have radial symmetry and are triploblastic.
Hemichordata - Their body is soft, fragile, and divided into a proboscis. The epidermis is single-layered.
Chordata - They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic. They possess a notochord and a nerve cord. The circulatory system is closed type.

Hence from the above explanation we can say that ‘Arthropod” is the largest Phylum in the animal kingdom.

Note:Humans belong to the kingdom Animalia - phylum Chordata (vertebrates) - class Mammalia (mammals) - order Primate - family Hominidae (hominids) - genus Homo - species sapiens.