The Kingdom Prokarya or Bacteria are

distinguished from the life forms in all other

kingdoms in that they do not have a
membrane bound nucleus containing the
genetic material of the cell. They are called
"prokaryotes". The genetic material is
simply found in strands ("plasmids") within
the cell's cytoplasm. Note that what was
previously called blue green algae are now
classified as cyanobacteria because they are
prokaryotes. Since they are so different
from all other life, under the five kingdom
system, Bacteria also comprise the
Superkingdom Prokarya.

The cells of life forms in the other four kingdoms are classified as "eukaryotes" and
have a nucleus in which the genetic material is organized on "chromosomes" within a
cellular nucleus. These four kingdoms comprise the Superkingdom Eukarya. Besides
the presence or absence of a nucleus, there are other major differences between
prokaryotes and eukaryotes. For example, Bacteria are all over the map in whether
they utilize oxygen or another gas such as nitrogen or methane. Some cannot even
tolerate oxygen—for these "anaerobic" Bacteria, oxygen is a poison. Almost all
eukaryotes are aerobes—they need oxygen to live. That some Bacteria require an
oxygen-free environment harkens back to the earth's earliest times and suggest
their ancient origin.
 The Kingdom Animalia is comprised of multi-
celled organisms which develop from an
embryo resulting from the fertilization of an
egg by a much smaller sperm. However,
even among the vertebrate animals, there is
an exception to sexual reproduction that
makes the definition slightly less than a
100% accurate. A species of lizard of the
genus Cnemidophorus reproduces by
parthenogenesis—no males or sperm
required. Yet I think everyone would accept
that this lizard is an animal (this lizard being
one exception that proves the rule—there
are other a few other parthenogenetic animals). Animals also share the characteristic
that most must ingest or eat other living or decayed organic matter as food to live
(or live as parasites or symbionts off of the nutrients provided by other living things)
(although this trait is also shared with some of the members of the Kingdom
Protoctista).

Animalia

Animals are multicellular, and move with the aid of cilia, flagella, or muscular organs
based on contractile proteins. They have organelles including a nucleus, but no
chloroplasts or cell walls. Animals acquire nutrients by ingestion.
 The Kingdom Plantae is composed of multi-celled
organisms that grow from embryos that are usually
the result of sexual fusion of a male and female
cell. Again there are exceptions although
somewhere in every plant's past, there were sexual
forbears. Most plants (but again not all) plants
engage in photosynthesis—that complicated and
almost miraculous process whereby the energy of
sunlight is used by the plant to produce
carbohydrates and gaseous O2from H2O and CO2.
As a result, plants are the great producers of life.
Plants generally have a rigid cell wall composed of
cellulose. They are non-motile (the entire organism
does not move about under its own energy) but
some produce motile cells.

Plantae

Plants are multicellular and most don't move, although gametes of some plants move
using cilia or flagella. Organelles including nucleus, chloroplasts are present, and cell
walls are present. Nutrients are acquired by photosynthesis (they all require sunlight).
 The Kingdom Fungi is comprised of non-motile cells
that have cell walls made of chitin (the same hard
stuff that the outer bodies of insects are made of)
and not cellulose. Therefore, some argue that fungi
are more closely related to animals than plants.
Fungi develop from spores without any embryonic
stage. They digest other living things outside their
bodies by releasing enzymes and then absorbing
the product.

Fungi

Fungi are multicellular,with a cell wall, organelles including a nucleus, but no

chloroplasts. They have no mechanisms for locomotion. Fungi range in size from
microscopic to very large ( such as mushrooms). Nutrients are acquired by absorption.
For the most part, fungi acquire nutrients from decaying material.
Kingdom Protista is the catch-all kingdom for
everything that does not fit into the other four. It is
comprised of many microscope organisms that are
of great interest to this group (as well as some
macroscopic organisms). These include protozoa (or
protista under the more modern name) and algae
but also such diverse organisms as slime molds and
slime nets. Although we often think of this group
from its microscopic members, it is also comprised
of some large organisms such as giant kelps that
can grow as much as 10 meters (over 30 feet).
ANIMALIA ( TIGER )

PLANTAE
( RAINFOREST )

FUNGI ( MOULD )

BACTERIA

PROTISTA ( PARAMECIUM )