The Kingdom of Animals

The Kingdom of Animals consists of multicellular organisms that feed by ingestion. On the simplest level, they are made up of tissues. As the animals become more complex, these tissues form organs. At the most complex level, these organs and tissues form organ systems. The Kingdom of Animals can be divided into main groups: animals with backbones are called vertebrates and those without backbone called invertebrates.

Again, some invertebrate animals do not have backbones. Insects, centipedes and worms are all invertebrates. Did you know the largest group of animals belongs to the group called invertebrates. Insects are easy to tell apart from other animals. Adult insects have six legs and three body parts. The first body part is the head. On the head are the eyes, mouth and antennae. The second body part is the thorax. On it are the wings and legs. The third part is the abdomen. On it are small openings for breathing.

People sometimes confuse butterflies with moths, but their are some important differences. Butterflies fly by day while moths flys at night. Butterflies have antennae with knobs and moths have antennae without knobs. Moths have plump, furry bodies while butterflies have thin, hairless bodies. Moths rest with their wings spread out flat while butterflies have rest with their wings held upright.

Which part of your body helps you sit up straight or stand tall? it is your backbone. You are a member of a large group of animals that have bonebones. Animals with backbones are called vertebrates. Reptiles, mammals, fish and birds are all vertebrates.

Have you ever tried to see a fawn standing silently in a forest? You have to look very closely. Its coloring makes it hard to see. This is called camouflage. Some animals use camouflage to protect themselves from their enemies. Other animals use their strength or speed for protection. The octopus and the squid have a special defense weapon. They squirt out a special inky chemical when threatened. This chemical act like a smoke screen and also dulls the sense of their enemies.

You will never see a dodo bird or a saber tooth tiger. These animals are gone forever. They are extinct. Animals in danger of becoming extinct are endangered. There may not be enough of them to reproduce.

Have you ever wondered why some animals hibernate? Some animals sleep all winter. This sleep is called hibernation. Animal get their energy and warmth from food. Some animals can not find enough food in the winter. They must eat large amounts of food in the autumn. Their bodies store this food as fat. Then,, in the winter, they hibernate. Their bodies live on the stored fat. Since their bodies need much less food during hibernation, they can stay alive without eating anymore food during the winter. Some animals that hibernate are snakes, turtles, chipmunks, bats and bears.