Animals with a backbone (or notochord), including humans, fish, and birds.
Animals with jointed legs and exoskeletons (insects, spiders, crustaceans—the largest phylum).
There are over 30 animal phyla, but these are some of the most common and distinct: phylum
Phyla help biologists understand evolutionary relationships. Organisms in the same phylum—say, a human and a fish—might look very different, but they share a basic body blueprint (in this case, belonging to Chordata ). Phylum Chordata | manoa.hawaii.edu/ExploringOurFluidEarth
Creatures with stinging tentacles (jellyfish, corals). Porifera : Simple, porous aquatic animals (sponges). Annelida : Segmented worms. Why Does Phylum Matter? Animals with a backbone (or notochord), including humans,
Situated just below and above Class in biological classification, a phylum groups organisms based on a general, shared body plan or fundamental developmental structure. What is a Phylum?
Soft-bodied animals, often with shells (snails, clams, octopuses). Organisms in the same phylum—say, a human and
After Kingdom, it is the primary division of organisms sharing core structural traits.