What a marvelous variety of life forms inhabit our beautiful Earth.  We are so lucky. Of all the animals, we alone are capable of appreciating and cataloging the abundant species for future generations - and who knows what other life forms, when we are gone (Don't worry - there's millions of years to go).  The ability to think sets us apart from the animal kingdom and gives us the responsibility to ensure the survival of as many creatures as we can for as long as we are able.  All too often Man has been responsible for hunting animals to extinction.  We now realise how dangerous we can be.  In fact we are the most dangerous of all species on the planet. 

We are so very lucky

Fortunately, the majority of us do care.  The fact you are reading this, shows you are interested.  It may just be for your homework, but I hope you may come to enjoy learning about your surroundings, as I did when I was a boy - and still do as a man.  

This is a mammoth task (if you'll pardon the pun).  I'm setting out to feature as many popular animals as I can think of.  Well, really, the ones I like the best and believe are the most important for you to know about and contemplate.  You may have already noticed that this website is fairly comprehensive, but wish me luck anyway - this latest challenge could take some time.  I hope you enjoy reading the pages as they are ready - and by the way - thanks for visiting my site.

Please use the Indexes below and sub indexes to navigate the Animal Kingdom:-

KINGDOM                                          NUMBER OF SPECIES
        
Bacteria............................................. 4,000
Protoctists (algae, protozoa, etc).......... 80,000
Animals, vertebrates........................... 52,000
Animals, invertebrates..................... 1,272,000
Fungi................................................ 72,000
Plants............................................. 270,000

Total number of described species.... 1,750,000
Possible nr. with unknown species:.. 14,000,000

Extract from the United Nations publication: UNEP-WCMC (2000). Global Biodiversity: Earth's living resources in the 21st century. Cambridge, World Conservation Press.

The Animal Kingdom is at once the Kingdom most and least familiar to us. Almost all of the animals we commonly think of -- mammals, fish, and birds -- belong to a single subgroup within one of the 33 Phyla comprising the Animal Kingdom. On the other hand, over 100,000 species in some 25 animal phyla -- mostly small worms -- are so unfamiliar that they are virtually unknown to non-scientists. The same goes for several hundred thousand tiny insect-like species populating the Arthropoda phylum.

Animal Classification

Scientists who study living things are called biologists. Biologists classify living things into two kingdoms, the Plant Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom. The study of plants is called botany. Scientists who study plants are called botanists. The study of animals is called zoology. Scientists who study zoology are called zoologists. Zoologists study thousands of different kinds of animals.

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