The document describes the key characteristics of different kingdoms of living organisms including Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata and Chordata. It provides information on their level of organization, germ layers, symmetry, presence or absence of cephalization, body cavity, segmentation, habitat, feeding and basic body structure.

1. Porifera
Sponges
Cnidaria
Hydra
Anemones
Jellyfish
Platyhelminthes
Flatworms
Nematoda
Roundworms
Annelida
Segmented
worms
Mollusca
Snails Clams
Squids
Arthropoda
Insects
Arachnics
Crustaceans
Myriapods
Echinodermata
Sea stars, urchins,
brittle stars, sea
cucumbers
Chordata Vertebrates
Level of
organization
Cellular. Lack
tissues
Tissues, lack
organs
Organ systems Organ systems Organ systems Organ systems Organ systems Organ systems Organ systems
Germ layers Absent Two Three Three Three Three Three Three Three
Symmetry Absent Radial Bilateral Bilateral Bilateral Bilateral Bilateral Bilateral-larva
Radial-adult
Bilateral
Cephalization Absent Absent Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present
Body cavity Absent Absent Absent Pseudocoelom Coelom Coelom Coelom Coelom Coelom
Segmentation Absent Absent Absent Absent Present Absent Present Absent Present but reduced
Habitat Marine, few of
them fresh
water species.
Sessile.
Most live in
the oceans.
Polyps live
attached.
Aquatic, damp
terrestrial places.
Some parasites.
All habitats aquatic
and terrestrial,
some of them
parasites
Sea, fresh
water, damp
soils
Aquatic,
terrestrial in
some places
All over the
planet
Marine animals All over the planet
Feeding Filter feeding Carnivorous
predators
Free living and
parasites, detritivores,
saprophages
Free living and
parasites,
detritivores
saprophages
Free living and
parasites,
detritivores
saprophages
Filter feeding,
others
herbivorous ,
other
carnivorous
predators
Herbivorous ,
other
carnivorous
predators,
others
saprophages
Herbivorous , other
carnivorous
predators
Herbivorous, carnivorous
predators, scavengers….
Body Spicules Stinging cells
gastrovascular
Flat Cylindrical Metamers
setae
Visceral mass
mantle Shell foot
Cephalothorax,
head, abdomen
Endoskeleton,
calcium carbonate