The Animal classification project
Kingdom Animalia encompasses about 1.3 million known species, and estimates a total species range as high as 10-20 millions species. Thus, it is imperative to have some sort of organized system to classify these many species into different groups. Thanks to Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), people today have an effective way of organizing all of these species (known as "binomial nomenclature;" Genus species; example: Cardinalis cardinalis). When discussing all of these animals, it is important to know that they are all related and all share some common characteristics. They are all: heterotrophic, mobile (at some point in their lives), and symmetrical in some way. Have fun as you delve into this overview of the major phyla in Kingdom Animalia!