WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF ANIMALS

This website looks to describe the kingdom of animals.  If you were to ask most people where they would go to experience the animal kingdom, they would consider a visit to their local zoo.  However, zoo animals make up a mere fraction of the true animal kingdom.  It is at this point however that it should be highlighted that the initial purpose of this website is to celebrate and understand the animals of the world that we familiarly know and love.  However, it is intended that respect is paid to the way in which these animals fit into the vast kingdom of animals and their relation to the extensive history of animals that has blessed this planet.  This website looks to simplify how specific animals fit into the animal kingdom while still attempting to describe in factual terms how the animal kingdom is structured scientifically and historically.  Accuracy of information will always be sketchy due to the extensive scientific study of animals and their respective extinct ancestors.  This website tries to impartially describe the most popular beliefs.  However, new information, discoveries and theories are being spawned all the time, so the information contained in this website is subject to constant revision.

Animals (animalia) is a kingdom which is part of the Eukaryotes domain.

Eukaryotes are described as all organisms that contain complex structures of cells encased within an external membrane.  Not only does this domain include the animal kingdom, but also the plant kingdom and the fungi kingdom among others.

Within the animal kingdom are two subkingdoms.  The parazoa subkingdom is represented in today's world mainly by sponges which live mainly in clear waters and often attach to rocks and similar surfaces.  All other commonly familiar animals are in the alternative subkingdom known as eumetazoa.  Eumetazoa have tissues of cells which individually work in particular ways to create a living organism.

All commonly known animals in this eumetazoa subkingdom can be separated into animals which have a bilateral symmetry and radially symmetric animals.

Animals which have a bilateral symmetry differ from animals which have a radial symmetry simply because they have a front and back end.  A typical example of a radially symmetrical animal would be the jellyfish.

Humans are a part of the bilaterally symmetrical animals.