The Five Kingdom Classification- Biology for Higher Grades

Do you know that there are millions of living organisms on our planet? From the smallest bacteria to the giant trees, all living organisms are organized into groups for quicker and easier study. This system is termed the Five Kingdom Classification.

What is the Five Kingdom Classification?

Based on similar characteristics, scientists organize living organisms into five groups known as the Five Kingdom Classification. This system helps us understand the similarities and differences between living organisms. It was first introduced by Robert Whittaker in 1969.

The Five Kingdom Series of Life

Let’s explore how organisms are separated based on cellular structure, body organization, and mode of nutrition.

Kingdom Monera

They are all prokaryotes.

They have a unicellular body organization.

They can live in extreme places like ice or volcanoes

Examples include bacteria and cyanobacteria

Kingdom Protista

They are all eukaryotes.

They are mostly unicellular.

Most of them are aquatic.

Examples include amoeba, paramecium, and unicellular algae.

Kingdom Fungi

They are all eukaryotes

They may be unicellular (e.g., yeast) or multicellular (e.g., mushroom)

They are absorptive heterotrophs.

They do not make their food but absorb nutrients from decaying matter.

Kingdom Plantae

They are all eukaryotes.

They are multicellular.

They have chlorophyll and make their food through the process of photosynthesis.

Examples include trees, grass, ferns, etc.

Kingdom Animalia

They are all eukaryotes.

They are multicellular organisms.

They do not make their food and are ingestive heterotrophs.