Animal kingdom

Animal An"i*mal, a. [Cf. F. animal.] 1. Of or relating to animals; as, animal functions. [1913 Webster]

2. Pertaining to the merely sentient part of a creature, as distinguished from the intellectual, rational, or spiritual part; as, the animal passions or appetites. [1913 Webster]

3. Consisting of the flesh of animals; as, animal food. [1913 Webster]

{Animal magnetism}. See {Magnetism} and {Mesmerism}.

{Animal electricity}, the electricity developed in some animals, as the electric eel, torpedo, etc.

{Animal flower} (Zo["o]l.), a name given to certain marine animals resembling a flower, as any species of actinia or sea anemone, and other Anthozoa, hydroids, starfishes, etc.

{Animal heat} (Physiol.), the heat generated in the body of a living animal, by means of which the animal is kept at nearly a uniform temperature.

{Animal spirits}. See under {Spirit}.

{Animal kingdom}, the whole class of beings endowed with animal life. It embraces several subkingdoms, and under these there are Classes, Orders, Families, Genera, Species, and sometimes intermediate groupings, all in regular subordination, but variously arranged by different writers.

Note: The following are the grand divisions, or subkingdoms, and the principal classes under them, generally recognized at the present time: {Vertebrata}, including Mammalia or Mammals, Aves or Birds, Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces or Fishes, Marsipobranchiata (Craniota); and Leptocardia (Acrania). {Tunicata}, including the {Thaliacea}, and {Ascidioidea} or Ascidians. {Articulata} or {Annulosa}, including Insecta, Myriapoda, Malacapoda, Arachnida, Pycnogonida, Merostomata, Crustacea (Arthropoda); and Annelida, Gehyrea (Anarthropoda). {Helminthes} or {Vermes}, including Rotifera, Ch[ae]tognatha, Nematoidea, Acanthocephala, Nemertina, Turbellaria, Trematoda, Cestoidea, Mesozea. {Molluscoidea}, including Brachiopoda and Bryozoa. {Mollusca}, including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Pteropoda, Scaphopoda, Lamellibranchiata or Acephala. {Echinodermata}, including Holothurioidea, Echinoidea, Asterioidea, Ophiuroidea, and Crinoidea. {C[oe]lenterata}, including {Anthozoa} or {Polyps}, {Ctenophora}, and {Hydrozoa} or Acalephs. {Spongiozoa} or {Porifera}, including the sponges. {Protozoa}, including {Infusoria} and {Rhizopoda}. For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary. [1913 Webster]