Close message

Services to Schools

Animal Classification

Animal classification means grouping animals according to similarity. This topic covers the animal kingdom, vertebrates (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians) and invertebrates (arthropods). SCIS no: 1862387

Filter by media type

Display as

Classification of living organisms

An explanation why fungi have their own kingdom.

Kauri snail

The kauri snail or pūpū-rangi (Paryphanta busbyi).

Classification system

Carl Linnaeus publishes a system for classifying living things.

Classification of humans

Classification of modern humans, Homo sapiens.

Classifying marine organisms

Scientists show how organisms are classified based on their characteristics.

New Zealand glow worm

New Zealand glow worm

New Zealand glow-worms (genus Arachnocampa) are invertebrates.

A vertebrate

A vertebrate from an unknown whale.

Animal kingdom

Artwork by May Smith.

New Zealand sea daisy

New Zealand sea daisy

Sea daisies discovered in New Zealand in 1983.

Annelids

Invertebrates Annelids (ringed worms).

NIWA scientists find a new species of crustacean.

Crabs and crayfish

Crabs and crayfish are crustaceans, a subdivision of arthropods – the large group of animals without backbones (invertebrates) that includes insects, spiders, mites, scorpions and springtails. Arth...

Genetic changes

Genetic changes that make us human.

Evolution of plants and animals

The evolution of New Zealand plants and animals.

Octopus and squid

Octopus and squid are invertebrates known as Cephalopods.

Evolution of animals

Proof that animals are evolving faster than you think.

Evolutionary queue

Evolutionary queue

A cartoon about cold-blooded invertebrates at the back of the evolutionary queue.

Brushtail possum

Brushtail possum

The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) belongs to the subclass Marsupialia.

Spider monkey

The spider monkey belongs to the order of primates.

New family tree for moa

A new take on the evolutionary history of the moa.

Native birds of New Zealand

Native birds of New Zealand

Native birds of New Zealand drawn by W. Schmidt.

Species DNA

Researchers working to give every species its own DNA barcode.

Study to document DNA of bird species across the Pacific

Five staff members from the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources will travel to Wallis and Futuna next month to carry out the last phase of a first...

The Earth’s biodiversity

The Earth’s biodiversity could be much greater than we thought.

Research Papers

The biggest of all families

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the science of taxonomy, its development and communication to the public.

Pacific bird species

Pacific bird species

Study to document DNA of bird species across the Pacific.

A reconstructed moa

A reconstructed moa

The moa was a bird that lived in New Zealand and became extinct less than 600 years ago.

Molluscs

This is an image of shells and snails from Madagascar, Chile, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.

Humpback whale

These ocean mammals can grow up to 60 feet. Their biological name Megaptera novaeangliae means ‘big-winged New Englander’. The big wing refers to the large pectoral fin that can grow as long as 15 ...

The classification of sheep

Early newspaper article looking at the classification of sheep.

Three kiwi birds

Three kiwi birds

The kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand and is found only in its dense forests or some wildlife sanctuaries.

Dairy cows

Cows are an example of one of the most domesticated animals. They are animals so they belong to kingdom Animalia, also called Metazoa. They have backbones and hence they belong to the phylum Chordata.

Animal kingdom classification

Charts and information to help understand the classification of animals.

Rules of taxonomy

Every known living organism on Earth has a name governed by a set of rules.

Lesson plan on animal classification.

Information from the Encyclopedia of Animal Natural History.

Types of animals based on food

Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

Animal classification

Classification of animals for primary school pupils.

The 5 kingdoms of living things.

Classification of fish

Characteristics of fish and their classification.

Warm-blooded and cold- blooded animals

Interactive about warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals.

The history of taxonomy.

Classification of birds

The classification of birds into Archeornithes and Neornithes.

From Aristotle to Linnaeus

Classification according to Aristotle and Linnaeus.

Classification of insects

Insecta is divided into 2 subclasses.

Classification of mammals

Characteristics and classification of mammals.

Carolus Linnaeus

The Swedish naturalist who framed the principles for naming organisms.

Information about various types of marine life.

Characteristic of living things

Characteristics that classify an organism as living or dead.

Animal classification for kids

Classification of animals based on their characteristics.

Classification of living things

Classification of living things based on shared characteristics.

Five kingdoms of life

Every living creature belongs to the 5 kingdoms of animal life.

Defining characteristics and types of invertebrates.

Defining characteristics of vertebrates.

What is an animal?

Understanding the kingdom Animalia also called Metazoa.

Lesson plan – classifying animals

Lesson plan on the classification system used to identify animals.

Evolution of amphibians

Evolution of amphibians into fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Origin and evolution

The origin and evolution of animal life.

Animal classification

Activities to teach children about animal classification.

Dinosaur classification for kids

What are the different types of dinosaur species?

Birds evolved from dinosaurs

Birds evolved from dinosaurs slowly—then took off.

Plant and animal evolution

The shared evolutionary history of plants and animals.

Classification of animals

Basic information about classification.

Evolution of multicellular life

How oxygen enabled the development of multicellular organisms.

Living or non-living?

Students use an interactive or paper-based graphic organiser to describe the characteristics of living things and animals and classify them as living or non-living.

What are bryozoans?

Bryozoans – their classification, their ability to band together in colonies and their varied habitats.

Pets and Farm Animals

Pets and Farm Animals

This topic covers various types of pets (dogs, cats, goldfish etc.) and farm animals (sheep, alpaca). It also covers veterinary services, animal safety, caring for animals, the role of SPCA and ani...

Dinosaurs

Examine dinosaur evolution, types, characteristics, physiology, food habits, and fossil findings in New Zealand, Africa, and Antarctica. Also covered are the numerous theories on dinosaur extinctio...

Insects and Minibeasts

Insects and Minibeasts

Use these resources to identify invertebrates, study their characteristics and life cycles. This topic covers New Zealand’s many insects — including weta and also the biosecurity required to protec...

Rocky Shore

New Zealand’s coastline is home to sea life like paua and koura. Explore the ecology of our marine environment, its rocky shore animals, the impact of coastal erosion, climate change, and the effor...