STATUS OF ANIMAL PHYLA IN DIFFERENT KINGDOM SYSTEMS OF BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

Biological classification is the scientific procedure of arranging the organisms in a hierarchical series of groups and sub-groups on the basis of their similarities and dissimilarities. Many biologists have contributed to this method of classification, which took years for researchers to decide the most fundamental characteristics for the classification. The history of kingdom system in classification is started with Linnaeus (1735), who laid the foundation of modern biological classification by classifying the organisms into two kingdoms namely Plantae and Animalia. The two kingdom system was followed by three, four, five and six kingdom systems respectively. In present discussion, authors tried to discuss the current status of different animal phyla with respect to different kingdom systems.