The 6 Kingdoms of Life

When Linnaeus developed his system of classification, there were only two kingdoms, Plants and
Animals. But the use of the microscope and advancement in science led to the discovery of new
organisms and the identification of differences in cells. A two-kingdom system was no longer
useful. Today the system of classification includes six kingdoms.
The Six Kingdoms:
Plants, Animals, Protists, Fungi, Archaebacteria, Bacteria
How are organisms placed into their kingdoms?
1. Cell type, complex or simple
2. Their ability to make food
3. The number of cells in their body

The Kingdom Fungi

The Kingdom Fungi includes some of the most important organisms, both in terms of their
ecological and economic roles. By decomposing dead material, they continue the cycle of nutrients
through ecosystems. In addition, most plants could not grow without the fungi, or mycorrhizae,
that live in their roots and supply essential nutrients. Other fungi provide numerous drugs (such as
penicillin and other antibiotics), foods like mushrooms, truffles and morels, and the bubbles in
bread (yeast), champagne, and beer. Fungi are eukaryotes, which means their cells have a nucleus.
Their cells also have a cell wall made of chitin. Fungi include both unicellular (yeasts) and
multicellular (molds, mushrooms etc.) organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye. Fungi
don’t move on their own, nor do they make their own food. Fungi are heterotrophs or consumers,
which means they get their nutrients from other living things. Fungi use external digestion – they
secrete (let out) digestive enzymes that dissolve their food, and then they absorb the nutrients they
need from the environment.

• Domain: Eukarya
• Organisms: Mushrooms, yeast, and molds
• Cell Type: Eukaryotic
• Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism
• Nutrition Acquisition: Absorption
• Reproduction: Sexual or asexual through spore formation
Kingdom Plantae
Plantae includes all land plants: mosses, ferns, grass, trees, flowering plants, and so on—an
amazing range of diverse forms. Plants don’t move. They are autotrophs, or producers, which
means they make their own food through photosynthesis. Plants are multicellular, meaning that
they consist of many cells. They are eukaryotes, so all of their cells have a nucleus. Plants cells
also have a cell wall made of cellulose. The most striking, and important, feature of plants is their
green color, the result of a pigment called chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll to capture light
energy, which fuels the manufacture of food—sugar, starch, and other carbohydrates. Without
these food sources, most life on earth would be impossible. There would still be mushrooms and
algae, but there would be no fruits, vegetables, grains, or any animals (which ultimately rely on
plants for their food too!) Another important contribution of plants is their shaping of the
environment. Plants give us oxygen to breathe and provide food and habitat for many species of
animals! Without plants, we couldn’t survive!

• Domain: Eukarya
• Organisms: vascular and nonvascular plants, flowering and nonflowering plants, seed-
bearing and non-seed bearing plants
• Cell Type: Eukaryotic
• Metabolism: physical and chemical events of photosynthesis, respiration, and the
synthesis and degradation of organic compounds
• Nutrition Acquisition: Through mycorrhization, the plant obtains nitrogen, phosphate,
and other minerals, such as zinc and copper, from the soil
• Reproduction: Sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction

Kingdom Protista
Protists are organisms that are classified into the kingdom Protista. The protists form a group of
organisms that really do not fit into any other kingdom. Although there is a lot of variety within
the protists, they do share some common characteristics. All protists live in moist environments.
All protists are eukaryotes, so their cells have a nucleus. Most protists are unicellular. Most protists
can move. Some are autotrophs, or producers, making their own food by photosynthesis; others
are heterotrophs (consumers) and must ingest (eat) other living things. Amoebae, algae,
paramecium, diatoms, and other organisms belong to the Protista.

• Domain: Eukarya
• Organisms: Amoebae, green algae, brown algae, diatoms, euglena, and slime molds
• Cell Type: Eukaryotic
• Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism
• Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on species, nutrition intake may occur through
absorption, photosynthesis, or ingestion
• Reproduction: Mostly asexual, but meiosis occurs in some species
Kingdom Archaea
Kingdom Archaea consists of prokaryotic organisms. These organisms are all unicellular and their
cells do not have a nucleus or complex organelles. The archaebacteria are found in extreme
environments, so they are often referred to as extremophiles. For example, some archaebacteria
live in hot springs at extremely high temperatures. Others are found in the Arctic, where it’s very
cold. Some live in very salty or acidic environments. The Archaebacteria include both autotrophs
and heterotrophs. Autotrophs can create their own food, like plants. Heterotrophs cannot create
their own food, and so must rely on other organisms as their food source.

• Domain: Archaea
• Organisms: Methanogens, halophiles, thermophiles, and psychrophiles
• Cell Type: Prokaryotic
• Metabolism: Depending on species, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur, or sulfide
may be needed for metabolism
• Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on species, nutrition intake may occur through
absorption, non-photosynthetic photophosphorylation, or chemosynthesis
• Reproduction: Asexual reproduction by binary fission, budding, or fragmentation

Kingdom Bacteria
Kingdom Bacteria consists of unicellular life forms. Bacteria are all prokaryotes. These cells are
far simpler and more basic than the cells of other life forms. These cells have no nucleus and are
also missing many of the organelles, or parts, commonly found in other cells. Bacteria are
classified into two groups, autotrophs, and heterotrophs. Autotrophs can create their own food,
similar to plants. Heterotrophs cannot create their own food, and so must rely on other organisms
as their food source Bacteria are considered by many scientists to be the oldest life forms on Earth,
and the ancestors of all the other types of life that have since evolved. Bacteria are extremely
important - they help us digest food, break down waste, and make products like yogurt and cheese.
Some Bacteria are pathogens, organisms that cause sickness, such as streptococcus and salmonella.

• Domain: Bacteria
• Organisms: Bacteria, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), and actinobacteria
• Cell Type: Prokaryotic
• Metabolism: Depending on species, oxygen may be toxic, tolerated, or needed for
metabolism
• Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on species, nutrition intake may occur through
absorption, photosynthesis, or chemosynthesis
• Reproduction: Asexual
Kingdom Animalia
Humans are a part of the kingdom Animalia. All members of the kingdom Animalia are eukaryotes.
Their cells contain a nucleus and complex organelles. Like many other life forms, animals are
multicellular. These cells come together, forming tissues, organs, and organ systems that help
sustain the life of the animal. From elephants to snails, animals come in many shapes and sizes,
and can be found all over the world. Animals cannot make their own food. They are heterotrophs,
or consumers, and must rely on other living things, such as plants, fungi, and other animals to
sustain them. Without other food sources, animals could not survive. There are more species of
animals than in all the other kingdoms. From worms to blue whales, to bald eagles, animals have
evolved to fit a wide variety of habitats. Animals all have a body plan. Their body plan eventually
becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis (caterpillar to
butterfly) later in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move around independently.

• Domain: Eukarya
• Organisms: Vertebrates, invertebrates
• Cell Type: Eukaryotic
• Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism
• Nutrition Acquisition: Ingestion
• Reproduction: Sexual reproduction occurs in most and asexual reproduction in some