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Overview of Kingdoms
Handout
How are organisms classified into Kingdoms?
In the six-kingdom classification system, organisms are classified according to
whether their cells contain a true nucleus, whether they are unicellular (made of onecell) or multicellular, and how they obtain food. The six kingdoms are
Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
Kingdom Archaebacteria includes bacteria that live in extreme, harsh
environments. They are single-celled prokaryotes (do not have nucleus). They have
strong cell walls that allow them to live in places no other living thing could. Some can
move on their own and most can make their own food (autotrophic).
Kingdom Eubacteria includes all common bacteria that can live most any
where. They are single celled and are prokaryotic. Many can move and some can make
their own food. They are very simple organisms
Kingdom Protista includes single-celled organisms, such as the amoeba, and
many-celled organisms such as slime molds and algae. All protists are eukaryotes,
organisms made of cells that have a distinct nucleus. Some protists can make their own
food, and some can move.
Kingdom Fungi includes decomposers, such as mushrooms and yeasts. Fungi
are many-celled eukaryotes that cannot make their own food and cannot move.
Kingdom Plantae (Plants) includes both seedless plants, such as mosses and
ferns; and seed plants, including cone-bearing plants and flowering plants. All plants
are many-celled eukaryotes that make their own food (producers), and cannot move.
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) includes sponges, jellyfish, worms, crabs,
insects, frogs, snakes, birds, and humans. Animals are many celled eukaryotes that
cannot make their own food (consumers). Most animals can move.
Complete the Chart using the information above:
Archaebacteria
Eubacteria Protista
Cell Type
Cell
Number
Ability to
Move
Ability to
make food
Example
Fungi
Eukaryote
Plantae
Animalia
Multicelled
Some species can
move
Producers &
Consumers
E. Coli
The Six Kingdoms: Summary Chart
Archaebacteria Simple, unicellular organisms with no true nucleus and live in extreme places
Simple, unicellular organisms with no true nucleus that live almost everywhere
Eubacteria
Simple, unicellular, or mulitcellular organisms. They have a true nucleus
Protista
Unicellular or multicellular organisms, fungi obtain food from dead organisms
Fungi
Muticellular organisms; plants use cholorphyll to make their own food.
Plantae
Multicellular organisms; animals get their food by eating other organisms.
Animalia
List Characteristics for each Kingdom
I.
Archaebacteria
1.
2.
3.
II.
Eubacteria
1.
2.
3.
4.
III.
Protista (Protists)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
IV.
Fungi (Fungus)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
V.
Plantae (Plants)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
VI.
Animalia (Animals)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.