The New Childrens Encyclopedia

Life on Earth

Life on Earth is hugely varied. Sunflowers and

sharks look like they have nothing in common,

but all living things share certain features: they

are made up of cells; they need energy to survive;

they have a life cycle; and they can reproduce.

Animals are living things that are

made up of many cells (multicelled).

They get energy by eating food.

PHYLUM:

Chordates—Animals

with some form of spine.

Fungi are multicelled organisms that

do not need sunlight to grow. Many

fungi live underground—all that can

be seen above ground are the parts

that make spores for reproduction,

which are called mushrooms.

Plants are also multicelled. The cell

walls are made of cellulose. Plants

make their own food through a

process called photosynthesis.

CLASS: Mammals—These

are chordates that nurse their

young with milk. Most give

birth to live young.

ORDER: Carnivores—These

mammals have powerful jaws

and specialized teeth for killing

and eating meat.

FAMILY: Felids—These are

carnivores that have extending

claws. The common name for

Felids is “cat.”

SPECIES: Panthera

pardus—This name identifies

the roaring cat as a leopard.

GENUS: Panthera—These

are large cats that can roar as

well as purr.

LIFE CYCLE

All living things have a time when

they grow and a time when

they die. They also

reproduce, which

ensures the survival

of the species.

Animals lay eggs

or give birth to live

young, plants and

fungi produce

seeds or spores, and

bacteria and protists

usually divide in two

to reproduce.

EGG

DUCKLING

ADULT DUCK

Scientists organize all life-forms

using a classification system.

At the top of the system used in

this book are five broad groups,

called kingdoms. Every living

thing fits into a kingdom based

on its cell structure and the way it

gets energy. Kingdoms are divided

into smaller and smaller groups,

based on shared characteristics.

The smallest grouping is species.

THE FIVE KINGDOMS

LIVING WORLD