There are many different types of animals in the world. Many animals are quite similar to each other.

Others are quite different. Animals can be classified based on their similarities. Continue on, and learn more about your fellow Earth inhabitants. Here are some of the animals you can investigate in our Science Reference Library. The first name you read is the common name for the animal. The name in parentheses ( ) is the Latin word for the group (the phylum or subphylum or class or group or order) that scientists sometimes use to refer to animals. Invertebrates Animals without a Backbone or Spinal Column: Vertebrates Animals with a Backbone or Spinal Column: (All these animals are in thephyla Chordata and the subphyla Vertebrata.) Fish (group: Pisces) Amphibians such as frogs (class: Amphibia) Reptiles such as crocodiles (class: Reptilia) Birds (class: Aves)

Protozoa (phyla: protozoa) Echinoderms such as starfish (phyla: Echinodermata) Annelids such as earthworms (phyla: Annelida) Mollusks such as octopus (phyla: Mollusca) Arthropods such as crabs, spiders and insects (phyla: Arthropoda) Crustaceans such as crabs (subphyla: Crustacea) Arachnids such as spiders (subphyla: Chelicerata class: Arachnida) Insects (subphyla: Uniramia class: Insecta)

Mammals (class: Mammalia)

Marsupials such as kangaroos (order: Marsupialia) Primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees (order: Primates)

Rodents such as mice (order: Rodentia) Cetaceans such as whales and dolphins ( order: Cetacea) Animals such as seals (order: Carnivora family: Phocidae)

For more information about animals, see our Animal Video Collection