Six Kingdoms of Life

Organisms are classified into one of six Kingdoms of life. These Kingdoms are Archaea, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Organisms are placed into these categories based on similarities or common characteristics. Some of the characteristics that are used to determine placement are cell type, metabolism, and reproduction.

Below is a list of the six Kingdoms of life and information on a few organisms in each category.

Six Kingdoms of Life

I. Archaea

Organisms: Methanogens, Halophiles, Thermophiles, Psychrophiles

Cell Type: Prokaryotic

Metabolism: Depending on species - oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur, sulfide may be needed for metabolism.

Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on species - nutrition intake may by absorption, non-photosynthetic photophosphorylation, or chemosynthesis.

Reproduction: Asexual reproduction by binary fission, budding, or fragmentation.

II. Eubacteria

Organisms: Bacteria, Cyanobacteria(blue-green algae), Actinobacteria

Cell Type: Prokaryotic

Metabolism: Depending on species - oxygen may be toxic, tolerated, or needed for metabolism.

Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on species - nutrition intake may by absorption, photosynthesis, or chemosynthesis.

Reproduction: Asexual reproduction

III. Protista

Organisms: Amoebae, green algae, brown algae, diatoms, euglena, slime molds

Cell Type: Eukaryotic

Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism.

Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on species - nutrition intake may be by absorption, photosynthesis, or ingestion.

Reproduction: Mostly asexual reproduction. Meiosis occurs in some species.

IV. Fungi

Organisms: Mushrooms, yeast, molds

Cell Type: Eukaryotic

Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism.

Nutrition Acquisition: Absorption

Reproduction: Asexual or sexual reproduction occur.

V. Plantae

Organisms: Mosses, flowering plants, liverworts

Cell Type: Eukaryotic

Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism.

Nutrition Acquisition: Photosynthesis

Reproduction: Some species reproduce asexually by mitosis. Other species exhibit sexual reproduction.

VI. Animalia

Organisms: Mammals, amphibians, sponges, insects, worms

Cell Type: Eukaryotic

Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for metabolism.

Nutrition Acquisition: Ingestion

Reproduction: Sexual reproduction

Share Your Opinions

Have a question about the six Kingdoms of life? Come on over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions, and feelings. Until next time...