Question

NCERT Solutions Class 11 Biology Chapter 4 Animal Kingdom has discussed all the basic concepts of the animal kingdom. NCERT Solutions are made by experts in the subject matter.

NCERT Solutions Class 11 is the best way to learn and prepare for tough exams like JEE Mains, and JEE Advance. We have provided every topic in detail here.

• Animal Kingdom – animals are complex multicellular, eukaryotic organism but there is some exception as well. Animals are not autotrophic and depend on other living organisms for their food. They have symmetrical body structures, diploblastic or triploblastic.
• Basis of Classification of Animals – there are two broad classifications of the animal kingdoms. These two classifications are done based on the presence or absence of notochord. The notochord is a cartilage-like flexible material. Chordate does not particularly include vertebrates. Chordates are organisms that possess a notochord at some point in their life.
  •  Nonchordates – such animals which do not possess any notochord are called non-chordates. These organisms have rod-like body structures and well-organized organ systems. Porifera are a member of non-chordates such as coelenterate, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, aschelminthes, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata. Characteristics of non-chordates are:
    • They are triploblastic, cylindrical, coelomate animals.
    • These animals use gills, trachea, or body surfaces for respiration.
    • The sexes of these animals are highly indistinguishable among different members of the group.
    • They can use both sexual as well as asexual reproductive processes.
    • Fertilization of most of the animals of this group takes place externally.
    • They have an open circulatory system.
    • Chordates - chordates are such animals that possess notochord at some stage of their development. Animals of this group have hollow nerve cords and pharyngeal gill slits. Characteristics of chordates are:
    • They are triploblastic, coelomate, and have an organized organ system.
    • They have a closed circulatory system.

NCERT Solutions Class 11 Biology has a thorough discussion of every difficult concept which is the best way to learn and understand basic concepts.

Answer 1

NCERT Solutions Class 11 Biology Chapter 4 Animal Kingdom

1. What are the difficulties that you would face in classification of animals, if common fundamental features are not taken into account?

Solution:

For the classification of living organisms, common fundamental characteristics are considered. 

If we consider specific characteristics, then each organism will be placed in a separate group and the entire objective of classification would not be achieved. 

Classification of animals is also important in comparing different organisms and judging their individual evolutionary significance. If only a single characteristic is considered, then this objective would not be achieved.

2. If you are given a specimen, what are the steps that you would follow to classify it?

Solution:

There is a certain common fundamental feature that helps in classification of living organisms. The features that can be used in classification are as follows.

On the basis of above features, we can easily classify a specimen into its respective category.

3. How useful is the study of the nature of body cavity and coelom in the classification of animals?

Solution:

Coelom is a fluid filled space between the body wall and digestive tract. The presence or absence of body cavity or coelom plays a very important role in the classification of animals. Animals that possess a fluid filled cavity between body wall and digestive tract are known as coelomates. Annelids, mollusks, arthropods, echinodermates, and chordates are examples of coelomates. On the other hand, the animals in which the body cavity is not lined by mesoderm are known as pseudocoelomates. In such animals, mesoderm is scattered in between ectoderm and endoderm. Aschelminthes is an example of pseudocoelomates. In certain animals, the body cavity is absent.

They are known as acoelomates. An example of acoelomates is platyhelminthes.

4. Distinguish between intracellular and extracellular digestion?

Solution:

Intracellular digestion		Extracellular digestion
1.	The digestion of food occurs within the cell.	1.	The digestion occurs in the cavity of alimentary canal.
2.	Digestive enzymes are secreted by the surrounding cytoplasm into the food vacuole.	2.	Digestive enzymes are secreted by special cells into the cavity of alimentary canal
3.	Digestive products are diffused into the cytoplasm.	3.	Digestive products diffuse across the intestinal wall into various parts of the body.
4.	It is a less efficient method.	4.	It is a more efficient method of digestion.
5.	It occurs in unicellular organisms.	5.	It occurs in multicellular organisms

5. What is the difference between direct and indirect development?

Solution:

Direct development		Indirect development
1.	It is a type of development in which an embryo develops into a mature individual without involving a larval stage.	1.	It is a type of development that involves a sexually-immature larval stage, having different food requirements than adults.
2.	Metamorphosis is absent.	2.	Metamorphosis involving development of larva to a sexually mature adult is present.
3.	It occurs in fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals.	3.	It occurs in most of the invertebrates and amphibians.

6. What are the peculiar features that you find in parasitic platyhelminthes?

Solution:

Taenia (Tapeworm) and Fasciola (liver fluke) are examples of parasitic platyhelminthes. 

Peculiar features in parasitic platyhelminthes are as follows. 

• They have dorsiventrally flattened body and bear hooks and suckers to get attached inside the body of the host. 
• Their body is covered with thick tegument, which protects them from the action of digestive juices of the host. 
• The tegument also helps in absorbing nutrients from the host’s body.

Answer 2

7. What are the reasons that you can think of for the arthropods to constitute the largest group of the animal kingdom?

Solution:

The phylum, Arthropoda, consists of more than two-thirds of the animal species on earth. The reasons for the success of arthropods are as follows. 

• Jointed legs that allow more mobility on land 
• Hard exoskeleton made of chitin that protects the body 
• The hard exoskeleton also reduces water loss from the body of arthropods making them more adapted to terrestrial conditions.

8. Water vascular system is the characteristic of which group of the following: (a) Porifera (b) Ctenophora (c) Echinodermata (d) Chordata

Solution:

Water vascular system is a characteristic feature of the phylum, Echinodermata. It consists of an array of radiating channels, tube feet, and madreporite. The water vascular system helps in locomotion, food capturing, and respiration.

9. “All vertebrates are chordates but all chordates are not vertebrates”. Justify the statement.

Solution:

The characteristic features of the phylum, Chordata, include the presence of a notochord and paired pharyngeal gill slits. In sub-phylum Vertebrata, the notochord present in embryos gets replaced by a cartilaginous or bony vertebral column in adults. Thus, it can be said that all vertebrates are chordates but all chordates are not vertebrates.

10. How important is the presence of air bladder in Pisces?

Solution:

Gas bladder or air bladder is a gas filled sac present in fishes. It helps in maintaining buoyancy. Thus, it helps fishes to ascend or descend and stay in the water current.

11. What are the modifications that are observed in birds that help them fly?

Solution:

Birds have undergone many structural adaptations to suit their aerial life. Some of these adaptations are as follows. 

• Streamlined body for rapid and smooth movement 
• Covering of feathers for insulation 
• Forelimbs modified into wings and hind limbs used for walking, perching, and swimming 
• Presence of pneumatic bones to reduce weight 
• Presence of additional air sacs to supplement respiration

12. Could the number of eggs or young ones produced by an oviparous and viviparous mother be equal? Why?

Solution:

The numbers of eggs produced by an oviparous mother will be more than the young ones produced by a viviparous mother. This is because in oviparous animals, the development of young ones takes place outside the mother’s body. Their eggs are more prone to environmental conditions and predators. Therefore, to overcome the loss, more eggs are produced by mothers so that even under harsh environmental conditions, some eggs might be able to survive and produce young ones. On the other hand, in viviparous organisms, the development of young ones takes place in safe conditions inside the body of the mother. They are less exposed to environmental conditions and predators. Therefore, there are more chances of their survival and hence, less number of young ones is produced compared to the number of eggs.

13. Segmentation in the body is first observed in which of the following: 

(a) Platyhelminthes 

(b) Aschelminthes 

(c) Annelida 

(d) Arthropoda

Solution:

The body segmentation first appeared in the phylum, Annelida (annulus meaning little ring).

14. Match the following:

(a) Operculum	(i) Ctenophora
(b) Parapodia	(ii) Mollusca
(c) Scales	(iii) Porifera
(d) Comb plates	(iv) Reptilia
(e) Radula	(v) Annelida
(f) Hairs	(vi) Cyclostomata and Chondrichthyes
(g) Choanocytes	(vii) Mammalia
(h) Gill slits	(viii) Osteichthyes

Solution:

(a) Operculum	(viii) Osteichthyes
(b) Parapodia	(v) Annelida
(c) Scales	(iv) Reptilia
(d) Comb plates	(i) Ctenophora
(e) Radula	(ii) Mollusca
(f) Hairs	(vii) Mammalia
(g) Choanocytes	(iii) Porifera
(h) Gill slits	(vi) Cyclostomata and Chondrichthyes

15. Prepare a list of some animals that are found parasitic on human beings.

Solution:

S/No	Name of organism	Phylum
1.	Taenia solium	Platyhelminthes
2.	Fasciola hepatica	Platyhelminthes
3.	Ascaris lumbricoides	Aschelminthes
4.	Wuchereria bancrofti	Aschelminthes
5.	Ancyclostoma	Aschelminthes