The Six Kingdoms
of
Living Things
How many different organisms
are there on earth?
The latest estimate by scientists is that
there are 8.7 million different species on
earth!
 But, some scientists think this estimate is
way too low.
 The truth is we really don’t know, but we
do know there are millions of different
species.

That is why we classify.

Because there are so many different kinds
of living things, scientists have classified
them and grouped them by their
characteristics. This makes it easier to
study them. Every living thing belongs to
one of the six kingdoms of living things.
The Six Kingdoms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Archaebacteria
Eubacteria
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
Three characteristics
determine how to
classify an organism
into a kingdom.
1. How many cells make up the
body of the organism?
An organism that is made up of only one
cell is called a UNICELLULAR organism.
 An organism which is made up of more
than one cell is called a MULTICELLULAR
organism.

2. Does the organism have a
nucleus?
An organism that has a nucleus is called a
EUKARYOTE.
 An organism that does not have a nucleus
is called a PROKARYOTE.

3. How does the organism get its
food?
Organisms which make their own food are
called AUTOTROPHIC.
 Organisms that must take in food are
called HETEROTROPHIC.

Archaebacteria
Examples:
 Methanogens (live in places
without oxygen), halophiles (live
in salt lakes)

Archaebacteria
Archaebacteria are unicellular.
 They are prokaryotes.
 Some are autotrophic and some are
heterotrophic.
 They are often found in extreme
conditions, such as hot springs, the
Dead Sea, and thermal vents

Eubacteria
Examples:
 E. coli, streptococcus,
salmonella

Eubacteria
Eubacteria are unicellular. (1)
 They are prokaryotes. (no)
 Some are autotrophic and some are
heterotrophic.
 This is the larger of the two bacteria
kingdoms. (Most bacteria are this kind.)

Protists
Examples:
 Paramecia, euglena,
amoebas, alga

Protists
Some protists are unicellular and some
are multicellular.
 All protists are eukaryotes.
 Some of them autotrophic and some are
heterotrophic
 They are divided into three groupsplant-like, animal-like, and fungus-like.

Fungi
Examples:
 Mushrooms, mold, mildew,
yeast, Athlete’s foot,
ringworm

Fungi
Most fungi are multicelluar. One exception
is yeast. Yeast are unicellular.
 All fungi are eukaryotes.
 All fungi are heterotrophic. Many live on
their food. (rotting log)
 Fungi are important sources of food (yeast
and mushrooms) and medicine. They help
recycle Earth’s wastes (decomposers).

Plants
Examples:
 Trees, bushes, fruits,
vegetables, flowering
plants, grasses

Plants
All plants are multicellular.
 All plants are eukaryotes.
 All plants are autotrophic.
 Plants produce food and oxygen, which
are required by most organisms on Earth.

Animals
Examples:
 Worms, ants, spiders,
jellyfish, coral, fish, reptiles,
amphibians, birds, mammals

Animals
All animals are multicellular.
 All animals are eukaryotes.
 All animals are heterotrophic.
 Animals provide food and companionship
in your daily lives.
