Animal Kingdom Phyla with Examples & Images | NEET Biology Guide | NCERT.
Animal Kingdom Phyla with Examples
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| Animal Kingdom Phyla with Examples & Images | NEET Biology Guide | NCERT. |
Understanding the Animal Kingdom is crucial for NEET aspirants. It forms the foundation of biological classification and appears frequently in NEET biology questions. In this post, we’ll walk through all major animal phyla with their defining features and examples, exactly as given in the NCERT Class 11 Biology textbook. Each example is classified under its correct phylum, and where possible, we’ll suggest the kind of image to use for better memory recall.
📘 Kingdom Animalia Overview
Kingdom Animalia includes multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that mostly show locomotion, nervous coordination, and sexual reproduction. Based on their body organization and other features, animals are grouped into different phyla.
🔹 1. Phylum Porifera (Sponges)
Key Features:
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Cellular level of organization
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Pores (ostia) and canals for water transport
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Sessile (non-motile), marine organisms
NCERT Examples:
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Sycon
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Spongilla
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Euspongia
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 2. Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria)
Key Features:
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Tissue level of organization
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Radial symmetry
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Nematocysts (stinging cells) on tentacles
NCERT Examples:
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Hydra
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Jellyfish (Aurelia)
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Sea anemone (Adamsia)
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Obelia
🔹 3. Phylum Ctenophora (Comb jellies)
Key Features:
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Marine, bioluminescent
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Radial symmetry
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Eight comb plates for locomotion
NCERT Examples:
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Pleurobrachia
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Ctenoplana
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 4. Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flatworms)
Key Features:
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Bilateral symmetry
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Acoelomate, flat body
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Mostly parasitic
NCERT Examples:
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Planaria
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Liver fluke (Fasciola)
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Tapeworm (Taenia)
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 5. Phylum Aschelminthes (Nematoda or Roundworms)
Key Features:
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Pseudocoelomates
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Unsegmented round body
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Mostly parasitic
NCERT Examples:
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Ascaris (roundworm)
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Wuchereria (causes elephantiasis)
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Ancylostoma (hookworm)
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 6. Phylum Annelida (Segmented worms)
Key Features:
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True coelom (coelomates)
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Body segmentation
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Closed circulatory system
NCERT Examples:
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Earthworm (Pheretima)
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Leech (Hirudinaria)
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Nereis (marine worm)
🔹 7. Phylum Arthropoda
Key Features:
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Jointed appendages
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Exoskeleton made of chitin
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Largest phylum in Animalia
NCERT Examples:
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Cockroach (Periplaneta)
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Butterfly
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Housefly (Musca)
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Mosquito
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Honeybee (Apis)
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Crab
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Spider
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 8. Phylum Mollusca
Key Features:
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Soft-bodied, unsegmented
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Muscular foot and mantle
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Often with calcareous shell
NCERT Examples:
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Pila (apple snail)
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Octopus
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Unio
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Sepia (cuttlefish)
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 9. Phylum Echinodermata
Key Features:
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Spiny-skinned marine animals
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Radial symmetry in adults
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Water vascular system
NCERT Examples:
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Starfish (Asterias)
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Sea urchin (Echinus)
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Sea cucumber (Holothuria)
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Antedon
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 10. Phylum Hemichordata
Key Features:
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Primitive notochord-like structure
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Marine, worm-like
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Proboscis and collar region
NCERT Examples:
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Balanoglossus
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Saccoglossus
More advanced examples in PDF
🔹 11. Phylum Chordata
Key Features:
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Notochord (at least in embryonic stage)
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Dorsal hollow nerve cord
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Pharyngeal slits and post-anal tail
Chordata is further divided into:
🐟 Pisces (Fishes)
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Rohu
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Shark
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Dogfish
🐸 Amphibia
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Frog (Rana)
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Toad (Bufo)
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Salamander
🐍 Reptilia
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Lizard (Hemidactylus)
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Turtle
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Crocodile
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Snake (Naja)
🕊️ Aves (Birds)
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Pigeon
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Crow
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Parrot
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Ostrich
🐒 Mammalia
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Human (Homo sapiens)
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Bat
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Whale
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Elephant
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Tiger
More advanced examples in PDF
📝 Final Tips for NEET
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Focus on unique features of each phylum.
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Remember the NCERT examples exactly, as NEET often asks direct questions from these.
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Use mnemonics and visuals to make memorization easier.
