Running Head: KINGDOM ANIMALIA

Kingdom Animalia 1

Kingdom Animalia:

Examination of Some Representative Members

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February 4, 2009 Kingdom Animalia 2

Introduction

In this paper, I will select two mammals, two insects, two birds, and two echinoderms that I have researched. I will list and briefly describe the eight species that I have selected, including a comparison of the similarities and differences between each pair.

All members of the kingdom Animalia share certain characteristics that define them, including the species that I have described in this paper. All creatures that we commonly call “Animals” are members of this kingdom. Organisms in this kingdom are all multi-cellular, with cells bound by a membrane but no rigid cell wall (such as in plant cells.) All animals are heterotrophs – that is, they depend on other organisms for their food. Autotrophs fix energy (feed themselves) using either photosynthesis (green plants), or are chemotropic (fix energy using chemical reactions other than light, for example, deep hot ocean vent organisms). Animals range in size from just a few cells to giant organisms. They may be simple and fairly undifferentiated, such as sponges, or large complicated organisms with many different tissues, organs, and systems – such as the largest animal that has existed on earth so far: The Blue Whale. (Meyers, 2001)

The animals that I will discuss are listed below.

Mammals:

Philippine flying lemur, Cynocephalus volans

California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus

Insects:

Eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis

Dragonfly, Epitheca cynosure Kingdom Animalia 3

Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis

Barn owl, Tyto alba

Echinoderms:

Sand Dollar, Dendraster excentricus

Long spined sea urchin, Diadema savignyi

Mammals

Mammals are in the class Mamalia, members of the Phylum Chordata, and Subphylum

Vertebrata. This means that they have a nerve chord that is protected by a spiny backbone.

There are approximately 5000 species, in about 26 Orders in the Mamalia Class. All mammals contain at least three characteristics not found in other animals. First, they gain their class name from the presence of Mammary Glands, which they use to produce milk to feed their young. All mammals have hair at some point in their life cycle. And finally, and least visible: all mammals have 3 inner ear bones – the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. (the malleus, incus, and stapes).

Despite these similarities, mammals have many differences: They live in many different environments, on land, in the water (fresh and salt), some fly, some crawl. Some are tiny, weighing just a few grams, to huge – weighing over 160 metric tons. (Wund & Myers, 2005)

The Philippine Flying Lemur, Cynocephalus volans, and the California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus, are the two mammals that I have selected. They both have visible hair, although the sea lion’s hair is far sparser – mostly whiskers in the adults. Both species usually have only one offspring at a time. (Wund & Myers, 2005) Kingdom Animalia 4

They are very different. The Philippine Flying Lemur is arboreal – it lives in the forest canopy, in the Philippines. The California Sea Lion lives near water – usually along coastlines, but occasionally is found in rivers along the northern Pacific Ocean coast. One swims in water.

The other glides through the air (although it does not truly ‘fly’.) (Wund & Myers, 2005)

The Philippine Flying Lemur ,Cynocephalus volans, belongs to the order Dermoptera. They have a furry membrane that reaches from the sides of the neck to the end of the tail, stretching across the forepaws, back to the hind feet, to the tail. Their lower incisors are shaped like combs

– an adaption thought to be used in both grooming and feed in young leaves, fruits, and flowers.

Their common name is Colugos, and they are medium/small animals, about 1-2 kg in size. They are not lemurs, although their faces do resemble some lemurs. They don’t really fly either (bats are the only mammals that fly). They glide from spot to spot in the forest canopy, and climb back up to higher points to re-launch. (Myers, 2005)

There are only two species in the order Dermoptera: The Philippine Flying Lemur and the Sunda

Flying Lemur (Galeopterus variegates). They both belong to the family Cynocephalidae, which is made up of a single genus ( Cynocephalus), with these two species. They are found in southeastern Asia, including the southern Philippines. (Myers, 2005)

California Sea Lions, Zalophus californianus, are found mostly in the Pacific Ocean – with a range that extends from California, to Mexico, to the Galapagos Islands, all the way to the Sea of

Japan. Males often migrate north to the coast of British Columbia (Canada) after the mating Kingdom Animalia 5 season. The populations of the different areas don’t interbreed, and are considered different subspecies because they are geographically isolated. (Price, 2002)

There are visible differences between the sexes of the California Sea Lion. Males are generally larger, about 2.2 meters in length and 275 kg (up to 390 kg) in weight. Females usually are 1.8 meters in length, and weighing about 91 kg; although they can grow to be 2 meters and 110 kg in size. The California Sea Lion is very intelligent, and often friendly. The work well with humans, and are often the main attractions at sea parks and along coastlines where they gather.

(Price, 2002)

The California Sea Lion belongs to the order Carnivora. Despite the name, not all members of

Carnivora are meat eaters. There is a wide range of eating habits within the order, although many of its members are primarily carnivorous. Other orders of mammals are also carnivorous.

Members of Carnivora have some common characteristics: A pair set of teeth (the fourth upper premolar and first lower molar), which form the carnassial pair, specialized for cutting meat and tendons of prey. All members of Carnivora have simple stomachs (as contrasted to the more complex stomachs of some mammals that are primarily vegetarian.) Most Carnivora are fairly intelligent, and have a large braincase. They have strongly developed zygomatic arches (cheek bones.)

Carnivora is a large order, with about 270 species in 13 living families. Another species in this order is the red panda, Ailurus fulgens. Cats are also Carnivora, including the familiar house cat

Felis catus. (Myers & Poor. 2007) Kingdom Animalia 6

Insects

Insects are members of the Class Insecta, which is perhaps the largest class of animals on earth, both in terms of numbers of species and individuals. There are about one million named species, and that number is growing, as there are estimates of up to several million yet unnamed species.

Common features of Insects share many common features – although not every insect demonstrates all of these characteristics. Generally, insects have 3 body parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen. They usually have at least two large compound eyes – and may have three more ocelli on their heads. The most commonly recognized characteristic is that the adults generally have three pairs of walking legs. Many insects have wings. (Meyers, 2001b)

The common eastern firefly, Photinus pyralis and the dragonfly, Epitheca cynosure, are the two insects that I have selected.

The firefly Photiunus pyralis, is the lightning bug that is seen in early summer. Members of the order Coleoptra, they are not really ‘flys’ at all – they are actually beetles. The males use specific flight and light flash patterns to signal to females. The females, waiting on the ground, reply with their own signal to attract a mate. Interestingly, some females lure males of other firefly species not for reproduction – but for food, capturing and eating the unwary males. Yes, fireflies are carnivorous – eating other insects, earthworms, and snails (McKenzie, 2001).

The dragonfly Epitheca cynosure is a member of the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), suborder Anisoptera (dragonflies), and family Corduliidae (green-eyed skimmers).

Dragonflies are carnivorous, and often found near water. They are distributed world wide, Kingdom Animalia 7 except for polar regions. They have large compound eyes, and hunt by sight. Their wings are stiff, and cannot be folded over the body when at rest. The pattern of veins in the wings is unique to Odonata, and can be used for identification. (Kirschbaum, 2007)

Other members of the order Odonata include the damselfly Hetaerina americana, in the

Suborder Zygoptera and Family Calopterygidae. (Myers, et al., 2008)

Both dragonflies and fireflies are flying insects, with four wings. Both species are carnivorous, and prey on a variety of other animals. Both species have a larval stage, then pupate to change

(metamorphosis) to the more familiar adult form. (Myers, 2001b)

Fireflies use only their second (hind) wings for flight – the first wings are harder, and form a cover over the flight wings. Dragonflies use all four wings for their flights. The larval stage of fireflies live in moist ground, while that of dragonflies usually live in water, and have gills to help them breath underwater. (Myers, 2001b)

Other members of the order Coleoptra is the predaceous diving beetle, Cybister ellipticus, in the

Family Dytiscidae; and the large jewel beetle, Euchroma gigantean, from the Family

Buprestidae (metallic wood-boring beetles) (“Euchroma gigantea, Ceiba Borer Beetle” n.d.)

Coleoptra have two pairs of wings, but the forewings are hardened, and often used as covers for the membranous hind wings, which are used for flying. (Myers, 2001b) Kingdom Animalia 8

Birds are members of the Class Aves, which are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata. All birds have feathers. The feathers are modified for flight – and while not all species of modern birds fly, their ancestors did. Birds have a horny beak, and no teeth. Birds lay eggs, and provide care for their young (or get another bird to do it). (“Aves”, 2001)

The two birds I will discuss are the Canada Goose, Branta canadensis, which is the Order

Anseriformes (waterfowl), and the barn owl, Tyto alba, in the Order Strigiformes.

The Canada Goose, Branta canadensis is found throughout North America. They are fairly large birds, with a weight range of 1 to 8 kg, and may be 1 to 2 meters in size, depending on the subspecies. Although once endangered, the Canada goose population has increased dramatically, and they are found in many urban environments. They have a black neck, bill, and head, with a white stripe running under the chin. The body of the bird is usually brownish. (Dewey & Lutz,

2002). The correct common name is “Canada Goose”, not “Canadian Goose”.

The species Cygnus buccinator , (trumpeter swan) is a member of the Order Anseriformes, as is the Horned screamer, Anhima cornuta. Horned Screamers are found in northern South America.

All members of this order have webbed feet, and are well adapted to life on the water’s surface.

(Howard, 2003)

The Barn Owl, Tyto alba, is found around the world, with many different subspecies (up to 35) based on size and color. They are medium to large birds, weighing about ½ kg. Their feathers Kingdom Animalia 9 have adaptations that allow them to fly nearly silently. They live in a variety of habitats, from rural to urban – although they are very seldom seen, as they are primarily nocturnal hunters.

They are members of the Order Strigiformes, and family Tytonidae. (Bachynski & Harris,

2002) In the wild they are usually short lived, with life spans seldom exceeding two years, although one captive individual was reported to have lived 34 years. (Marti, as cited in

Bachynski & Harris, 2002)

The Oriental bay owl, Phodilus badius, is in the same family as the Barn Owl. The burrowing owl, Athene cuniculari, is also a member of the Order Strigiformes, although in a different

Family, Strigidae. All species in this order have a characteristic facial disk made up of a conspicuous circle of feathers around the eyes. Their large wings allow them to fly slowly, and silently. They are terrestrial, as opposed to aquatic. (Bachynski & Harris, 2002)

Canada Geese and Barn Owls have some similarities – they’re both members of the Class Aves, so they have feathers adapted for flight, toothless beaks, and lay eggs. However, they have many differences. Barn Owns are carnivorous, usually hunting at night. Geese prefer grasses and grains, and usually forage for food during the day. Barn owns nest in enclosed spaces – hollows in logs, nest boxes, while Canada Geese build nests on the ground. Canada Geese are often heard honking as they fly in formation, while Barn Owls are seldom seen, silent and solitary night hunters. (Bachynski & Harris, 2002; Howard, 2003) Kingdom Animalia 10

Echinoderms

Echinoderms are in the Phylum Echinodermata. The term means “spiny skin”. There are about

7,000 living described species, with another 13,000 extinct species known from the fossil record.

They are found in all of the oceans of the world, and are widely distributed. (Mulcrone, 2005)

The Class Echinoidea contains sand dollars, heart urchins, and sea urchins. Like all

Echinoderms, they have a water vascular system, are pentaradially symmetrical (body parts are arranged along 5 rays of symmetry), and have an internal skeleton made up of bony plates called ossicles. Echinoidea are differentiated in that the ossicles overlap and are fused into a oval ball called a test. (Follo & Fautin, 2001)

The familiar Sand Dollar, Dendraster excentricus, belongs to the order Clypeasteroida. (Myers et al., 2008a). This order is identified as having multiple tube feet (part of the water vascular system) associated with pores on each of the bottom plates. (“The Echinoderm Directory”, n.d.

(a)) The pea urchin, Echinocyamus pusillus, and the six holed keyhole urchin, Leodia sexiesperforata are both members of this order (Myers et al., 2008c).

The long spined sea urchin, Diadema savignyi, belongs to the Order Diadematoida. In this order, the part of the test that contains the tube feet, the ambulacra are composed of simple or compound diadematoid plates. (Allaby, 1999) Other members of this order include Astropyga magnifica, (the Magnificent Sea Urchin), and the sea urchin, Diadema antillarum. (Meyers, et al., 2008b; “The Echinoderm Directory”, n.d. (b)) Kingdom Animalia 11

These species differ in their appearance, with the sand dollar covered in short, velvet-like spines, while the sea urchin is covered in long, sharp spines that it uses for locomotion and defense.

Sand dollars live in sandy or muddy areas, while the sea urchins tend to live in shallow lagoons. Kingdom Animalia 12

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