Animals Classification
Primary 4 · Science and Elementary Technology
Animals Classification
Lesson 1 of 5
15 min
Let's begin
Keza and Mugisha walk around their umudugudu and write down every animal they see: a goat, a crowned crane, a frog near the marsh, a butterfly, an earthworm and a lizard on a warm wall. That is six animals in ten minutes!
"There are so many," says Mugisha. "How do scientists keep them in order?" They sort them into groups.
To identify an animal, look carefully at it and ask questions:
Putting animals into groups by the features they share is called classification. It helps us name animals, study them and care for them.
Run your fingers down the middle of your back. Can you feel a row of small bumps? That is your backbone. It is made of many small bones called vertebrae. It holds your body up and protects the soft cord of nerves inside it.
The biggest way to sort animals is to ask: does it have a backbone?
There are five groups of vertebrates:
| Group | How to spot it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Mammals | Hair or fur; mothers feed their babies milk | cow, goat, rabbit, bat, you! |
| Birds | Feathers, wings and a beak; lay eggs | chicken, duck, crowned crane (umusambi) |
| Reptiles | Dry, scaly skin | lizard, snake, chameleon, crocodile, tortoise |
| Amphibians | Smooth, wet skin; young live in water, adults can live on land | frog, toad |
| Fish | Scales, fins and gills; live in water | tilapia, isambaza from Lake Kivu, catfish |
Most animals on Earth have no backbone. They are invertebrates.
Many insects and crabs have a hard covering on the OUTSIDE of their bodies instead of bones inside.
Tip
Feel for the bumps! Bumps down the back = backbone = vertebrate.
Remember the five vertebrate groups with this sentence: My Big Red Apple Fell: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
Is a frog a vertebrate or an invertebrate? Which group is it in?
Answer: A vertebrate. It is an amphibian: smooth, wet skin, and its young (tadpoles) live in water.
A bee has 6 legs and no bones inside its body. Which big group is it in?
Answer: Invertebrates. It is an insect.
Which vertebrate group has feathers?
Answer: Birds.
Mugisha says, "A snail has a hard shell, so it has a backbone." Is he right?
Answer: No. The shell is outside its body, like a little house. A snail has no backbone, so it is an invertebrate.
An animal has dry scales and lays its eggs on land. Which vertebrate group is it in?
Answer: Reptiles, for example a lizard or a crocodile.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The exercises (Try it yourself and the practice questions) are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
A frog has a backbone. Which vertebrate group is it in?
