Biological Classification

Many scientists have tried to classify biological organisms into

various classes on the basis of various characteristics that they
possess. A two kingdom classification was introduced during the
time of Linnaeus which included kingdom Animalia and kingdom
Plantae. However, this system did not provide a broader view of
the classification. R.H. Whittaker proposed a five kingdom
classification of biological organisms in the year 1969.

The Five Kingdom Classification

• The five kingdom classification includes the kingdoms Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae
and Animalia.
• This classification was done on the basis of the following features: cellular structure,
modes of nutrition, organisation of body, phylogenetic relationships and modes of
reproduction.

Characteristics Monera Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Cell wall Present (non- Present only Present (non- Cellulose cell Absent
cellulosic) in some cellulosic) wall present
organisms
Cell type Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic
Body Cellular Cellular Loose tissue Organ or Organ system
organisation or tissue or organ or
multicellular tissue
Nuclear Absent Present Present Present Present
membrane
Nutrition Autotrophic Autotrophic Heterotrophic Autotrophic Heterotrophic
mode
Table: Characteristics of the Five kingdoms

Kingdom Monera
• Kingdom Monera includes bacteria of different types. They are the most abundant
micro-organisms all over the world.
• There are four categories in which the bacteria are divided based on their shape. The
categories are as follows:
• Coccus (Spherical): Example- Staphylococcus sp., Pneumococcus sp., etc.
• Vibrium (Comma-shaped): Example- Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, etc.
• Bacillus (Rod-shaped): Example- Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus thuringiensis, etc.
• Spirillium (Spiral): Example- Campylobacter jejuni, Helicobacter pylori, etc.

Page1|5
Biological Classification

Archaebacteria
Archaebacteria are found in most harsh environments including hot springs, extreme salty
areas and marshy areas, accordingly these bacteria are known as thermo-acidophiles,
halophiles and methanogens respectively.

Eubacteria
Eubacteria are also known as “true bacteria”. They possess a rigid cell wall and have flagellum
in the motile forms. The different types of eubacteria are mentioned below:
• Cyanobacteria: They are also known “blue-green algae”. They are photosynthetic
autotrophs and contain Chlorophyll a. Some cyanobacteria have the ability of “nitrogen
fixation”with the help of Heterocysts.

Figure: Nostoc - A Cyanobacteria

• Chemosynthetic autotrophic bacteria: These bacteria oxidise inorganic substances like
nitrites, nitrates and ammonia. They have a vital role in “recycle of various nutrients”
like nitrogen, sulphur, potassium and phosphorous.
• Heterotrophic bacteria: These bacteria are the most abundant and most of them are
“decomposer”. They are useful for production of antibiotics and formation of curd.
• Mycoplasma: They do not possess cell wall. They are among the smallest living cells and
can live in “anaerobic” conditions as well. Further, they may be pathogenic in nature.

Reproduction in Bacteria
Bacteria generally reproduce through fission. Some bacteria also reproduce with the help of
“sexual reproduction” through a process of “DNA Transfer”.

Kingdom Protista
This kingdom comprises of all the eukaryotic unicellular organisms. Various members of this
kingdom are as follows:
• Chrysophytes: This group of organisms include “diatoms” and “golden algae or
desmids”. They are aquatic and live in fresh as well as marine water. Examples include
various planktons present in various water bodies.

Page2|5
Biological Classification

• Dinoflagellates: Dinoflagellates are “photosynthetic” and “mostly marine”. Some

“pigments” are present in these organisms which decides their color. Their color might
be red, blue, green, yellow or brown. Example of “red dinoflagellates” is Gonyaulax.
• Euglenoids: Euglenoids are mostly “fresh water organisms”. They do not have a cell wall
but have a “rich layer of protein” known as pellicle. An example of this type of
organisms is Euglena.
• Slime Moulds: They are saprophytic protists and engulf organic material. An
aggregation called plasmodium is formed under suitable conditions which can grow and
spread over many feet. Example- “Myxomycetes”.
• Protozoans: This group of protista are heterotrophs. There are four groups of
“protozoans” which are: Amoeboid protozoans, Ciliated protozoans, Flagellated
protozoans and Sporozoans.

Kingdom Fungi
Fungi are heterotrophic in nature. They can be saprophytes, parasites or can exist as lichen
with algae. They can also live with the roots of higher plants in the form of mycorrhiza. They
show great diversity in habitat and morphology. Some fungi are edible like mushrooms.

They are filamentous except Yeast which is unicellular. Their bodies have a long “thread-like
structure” which is known as hyphae. They can reproduce through fragmentation, budding,
fission, asexual reproduction through spores and sexual reproduction involving three steps
plasmogamy, karyogamy and meiosis in zygote which results in formation of haploid spores.
Fungi are divided into the following four categories:
• Phycomycetes: They live in aquatic habitats, moist and damp places or decaying wood
in the form of obligate parasites. Mycelium is coenocytic and aseptate. They reproduce
“asexually” through aplanospores or zoospores. The examples of “phycomycetes” are
Rhizopus and Mucor.
• Ascomycetes: They are also called “sac-fungi” and are multicellular except Yeast.
Mycelium is septate and branched. They reproduce “asexually” through Conidia and
“sexually” through Ascospores. Examples are Aspergillus and Neurospora.
• Basidiomycetes: They grow on logs, soil and tree stumps. They also exist as parasites
including smuts and rusts. Some examples include Agaricus and Puccinia.
• Deuteromycetes: They are called “imperfect fungi” because only vegetative or asexual
phases are known for this class of fungi. Some examples of deuteromycetes are
Alternaria and Trichoderma.

Kingdom Plantae
Kingdom Plantae consists of “eukaryotic organisms containing chlorophyll”. Generally, plants
are autotrophic. However, some members of the group are partially heterotrophic such as
“insectivorous plants”.
Life cycle of plants comprises two phases: haploid gametophytic and diploid sporophytic.
These phases occur alternatively and the phenomenon is known as “alternation of generation”.
This kingdom includes the following types of organisms:

Page3|5
Biological Classification

• Algae: Example- Chlamydomonas;

• Bryophytes: Example- Funaria;
• Pteridophytes: Example- Selaginella;
• Gymnosperms: Example- Sequoia
• Angiosperms: Example- Eucalyptus

Kingdom Animalia
Kingdom Animalia consists of “eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic”. They do not have
cell wall and are multicellular. They have holozoic nutrition. This kingdom includes the
following phylum:
• Porifera: Example- Spongilla;
• Coelenterata or Cnidaria: Example- Aurelia;
• Ctenophora: Example- Ctenoplana;
• Platyhelminthes: Example- Fasciola;
• Aschelminthes: Example- Ascaris;
• Annelida: Example- Pheretima;
• Arthropoda: Example- Anopheles;
• Mollusca: Example- Pila;
• Echinodermata: Example- Asterias;
• Hemichordata: Example- Balanoglossus
• Chordata: Example- Ascidia.

Virus, Viroid and Lichen

Viruses are “non-cellular organisms” having inert crystalline structure present outside living
cell.They contain “DNA or RNA” as genetic material. Various diseases are caused by them
including mumps, influenza, small pox, common cough and cold, etc.

Figure: Bacteriophage; A Virus

Page4|5
Biological Classification

Figure: Tobacco Mosaic Virus

• Viroids are smaller as compared to viruses and cause “potato spindle tuber disease”.
They possess low molecular weight RNA.
• Lichens are “symbiotic associations” of algae and fungi. The “algal component” of the
association is called phycobiont and the “fungal component” of the association is called
mycobiont.

Page5|5