Definition

Noun: 1. The taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals: In biological classification, Animalia is one of the fundamental kingdoms, encompassing all multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that are generally motile, heterotrophic (obtaining nutrients by ingesting other organisms), and develop from a blastula during embryonic development.

Usage Notes

• "Animalia" is a scientific, taxonomic term used primarily in biology and related academic fields.
• It is always capitalized as it is a proper noun referring to a specific kingdom.
• In everyday language, people typically use the word "animals." The term "Animalia" is used for formal classification and to distinguish this kingdom from others like Plantae (plants) or Fungi.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The kingdom Animalia includes creatures as diverse as sponges, insects, birds, and mammals.
  • In our biology class, we studied the major characteristics that define Animalia.
  • The phylogenetic tree shows the evolutionary relationships within Animalia.

Advanced Usage

• Hierarchical Classification: The term is used within the hierarchical system of biological taxonomy (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species).
  • Example: Humans are classified as Homo sapiens within the kingdom Animalia.

Variants and Related Words

• Animal (n): A living organism of the kingdom Animalia; the common, non-scientific term.
  • Dogs and cats are popular domestic animals.
• Metazoa (n): A synonym for Animalia, often used in more specific zoological contexts to refer to multicellular animals.
• Fauna (n): The animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. This refers to the collective animal life, not the taxonomic group itself.
  • The fauna of the Australian outback is unique.

Synonyms

• Animal Kingdom: The common English name for the taxonomic kingdom Animalia.
• Metazoa (scientific synonym).

Related Phrases / Contexts

• "Kingdom Animalia": The full, formal name often used in textbooks and scientific literature.
  • The course Biology 101 covers an introduction to Kingdom Animalia.

Noun

1. taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals