The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (2024)

CONTENTS:

  1. The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
    • There are 2 Kingdoms of Prokaryotes
    • There are 4 Kingdoms of Eukaryotes
  2. The 2 Kingdoms of Prokaryotes
    • 1. Kingdom Archaebacteria
    • 2. Kingdom Eubacteria
  3. The 4 Kingdoms of Eukaryotes
    • 3. Kingdom Protista
    • 4. Kingdom Fungi
    • 5. Kingdom Plantae
    • 6. Kingdom Animalia

The biological world is so diverse and it has shown a great deal of biodiversity during its millions of years of history with millions of organisms in the list of studies.

So, with such a huge bio-diversity, it has become very much important to actually divide and classify various organisms for the ease of study and recognition.

Due to this reason, the biological classification system is widely used. And, in the present day, the classification system that is widely used is the Phylogenetic Classification System.

What is Phylogenetic Classification System?

Phylogenetic Classification System is the system of biological classification in which all the living and extinct organisms in the world are classified based on evolutionary relationships among the organisms.

Based on the Phylogenetic 6 Kingdom Classification System:

  1. Kingdom Archaebacteria: These are prokaryotes.
  2. Kingdom Eubacteria: These are prokaryotes.
  3. Kingdom Protista: These are eukaryotes.
  4. Kingdom Fungi: These are eukaryotes.
  5. Kingdom Animalia: These are eukaryotes.
  6. Kingdom Plantae: These are eukaryotes.
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (1)

The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

There are 2 Kingdoms of Prokaryotes

1. Kingdom Archaebacteria: These are not true bacteria and are found only in harsh habitats like salty areas, hot springs, marshy areas, etc.

2. Kingdom Eubacteria: These are true bacteria and are found in abundance in nature. They are unicellular and prokaryotic microscopiccells.

There are 4 Kingdoms of Eukaryotes

3. Kingdom Protista: These are all single-celled eukaryotes with well-defined cell organelles.

4. Kingdom Fungi: Fungiare non-vascular eukaryotic organisms that they have true nucleus enclosed in specific nuclear membranes.

5. Kingdom Plantae: Includes all eukaryotic chlorophyll pigment-containing organisms that have a cell wall in common.

6. Kingdom Animalia: Includes all heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that are multicellular and lack cell walls.

The 2 Kingdoms of Prokaryotes

1. Kingdom Archaebacteria

Cell StructureProkaryotes
When Evolved3 to 4 billion years ago
Body OrganizationUnicellular
Nuclear MembraneAbsent
Mode of NutritionAutotrophic (Chemosynthetic & Photosynthetic)
Heterotrophic (Saprophytic & Parasitic)
ReproductionBinary Fission
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (3)

Archaebacteria are special since they live in some of the harshest habitats and are named accordingly as Halophiles living in extremely salty areas), Thermoacidophiles (living in hot springs), and Methanogens (living in marshy areas).

Archaebacteria differ from other varieties of bacteria as they have a different type of cell wall structure. The structure of their cell wall is very much prominent in their survival in extremely harsh conditions.

Archaebacteriaare considered extremophiles because they live in a variety of harsh environments and can tolerate extreme conditions such as acidity and salinity.

They appear to be living fossils acting as a connecting link in evolution between bacteria and multicellular eukaryotes.

Examples: Acidilobus saccharovorans, Staphylothermus hellenicus, Haloarcula hispanica, Methanococcus jannaschii, etc.

2. Kingdom Eubacteria

Cell StructureProkaryotes
When Evolved3 to 4 billion years ago
Body OrganizationUnicellular
Nuclear MembraneAbsent
Mode of NutritionAutotrophic (Chemosynthetic & Photosynthetic)
Heterotrophic (Saprophytic & Parasitic)
ReproductionBinary Fission & Conjugation
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (4)

Eubacteria are those types of true bacterias that are both autotrophs and heterotrophs. This means that these can produce their own food and can even be dependent on the producers for the food.

They can obtain nutrients from other living organisms as well. Some are pathogens while some are parasites.

They are also chemosynthetic in nature, which means that they get energy by breaking down and releasing the energy of inorganic compounds containing sulfur and nitrogen.

These are found on almost all surfaces and consist of nearly 5000-6000 species that have been discovered to date.

These are the most abundant bacteria in nature. They are characterized by the presence of a rigid cell wall, and if motile, a flagellum.

Examples: Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, etc.

The 4 Kingdoms of Eukaryotes

3. Kingdom Protista

Cell StructureEukaryotes
When Evolved1.5 billion years ago
Body OrganizationUnicellular
Nuclear MembranePresent
Mode of NutritionAutotrophic (Chemosynthetic & Photosynthetic)
Heterotrophic (Saprophytic & Parasitic)
ReproductionAsexually & Sexually
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (5)

All unicellular eukaryotes are placed under Protista. There are a diverse collection of organisms in this kingdom but, the boundaries of this kingdom are not well-defined.

Protists are simple eukaryotic organisms that are neither animals, plants nor fungi.

These are unicellular in nature and often seen living as colony of cells.

Most protists live in water,damp terrestrial environments, or even as parasites.

The protistan cell body has a well-defined nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Some have flagella and cilia.

They can reproduce both asexually and sexually by a process involving cell fusion and zygote formation.

Examples: Algae, Amoebas, Euglena, Plasmodium, Paramecium, Slime molds, etc.

4. Kingdom Fungi

Cell StructureEukaryotes
When Evolved1 billion years ago
Body OrganizationMulticellular with loose tissue
Nuclear MembranePresent
Mode of NutritionHeterotrophic (Saprophytic & Parasitic)
ReproductionVegatative, Asexual, and Sexual
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (6)

Multicellular microorganisms such as yeasts, moulds, and mushrooms are classified under the Kingdom fungi.

Most fungi are heterotrophic and absorb soluble organic matter from dead substrates and hence are called saprophytes.

Those that depends on living plants and animals are called saprophytes.

Those fungi which live in close association with algae are called lichens and with roots of higher plants as mycorrhiza. These fungi are symbionts.

The bodies of the fungi are multicellular containing long, slender, thread like-structures called hyphae. Mycelium is the network of hyphae.

Examples: Sac Fungi, Yeasts, Mushroom, Mold, etc.

5. Kingdom Plantae

Cell StructureEukaryotes
When Evolved500 million years ago
Body OrganizationMulticellular with Tissue/Organ System
Nuclear MembranePresent
Mode of NutritionAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
ReproductionAsexually & Sexually
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (7)

Kingdom Plantae includes all the chlorophyll-containing organisms, commonly called plants. Kingdom Plantae is composed of all plants.

Only a few members are partially heterotrophic. Those that includes are some of the insectivorous plants or parasites.

The cells of these organisms have green coloured chloroplasts and cell wall that is mainly made up of cellulose.

Kingdom Plantate includes Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms.

Examples: Flowering plants, Cactus, Seed Plants, Moss, Algae, Vascular Plants, Embryophytes, etc.

6. Kingdom Animalia

Cell StructureEukaryotes
When Evolved700 million years ago
Body OrganizationMulticellular with Tissue/Organ System
Nuclear MembranePresent
Mode of NutritionHeterotrophic (Holozoic, Saprophytic, etc.)
ReproductionMostly Sexually
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (8)

Kingdom Animalia includes all the heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms that are mostly multi-cellular and lack the cell wall.

Kingdom Animalia is composed of all animals. These are directly and indirectly dependent on the producers i.e. the plants for their food.

Their mode of nutrition is holozoic that is by the ingestion of food.

One important characteristic of these organisms is that they follow a definite growth pattern and grow into adults that have a definite shape and size.

Higher animals show elaborate sensory and neuromotor mechanisms. Most of them are capable of locomotion.

The sexual reproduction is done by the sexual intercourse between male and female organisms followed by the zygote and then the embryological development.

Examples: Humans, Cats, Dogs, Earthworms, Cockroaches, etc.

MORE RELATED POSTS

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  3. Are Protozoa and Protista the same thing or different? – (ANSWERED)
  4. Types of Prokaryotes: On the basis of Shape, Size, etc
The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (2024)

FAQs

The 6 Kingdom Classification of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes? ›

In 6 kingdom classification, prokaryotes are placed in archaebacteria and eubacteria kingdom while all other eukaryotes are placed in protista, fungi, plantae and Animalia kingdom.

What are the 6 kingdoms of classification? ›

Today all living organisms are classified into one of six kingdoms: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, or Animalia. The chart below shows how the kingdoms have changed over time. As scientists began to understand more about DNA, evolutionary biologists established a new taxonomic category—the domain.

What kingdom is eukaryotic vs prokaryotic? ›

In prokaryotic cells, the true nucleus is absent, moreover, membrane-bound organelles are present only in eukaryotic cells. Another major difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is that prokaryotic cells are exclusively unicellular, while the same does not apply to eukaryotic cells.

What are the classes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes? ›

Prokaryotes are those organisms which do not contain nucleus and other membrane bound organelles. They are unicellular. Eukaryotes are those organisms which contain nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They are either unicellular or multicellular.

Which of the six kingdoms are prokaryotes? ›

These domains are further classified into six kingdoms - Monera or Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. The two domains that include prokaryotic organisms are Archeae and Bacteria.

Why are there 6 kingdoms instead of 5? ›

Traditionally, there were five kingdoms of classification. Recently it was found that the archaebacteria belonging to the kingdom Monera are different from the other bacteria in cell structure and physiological functions, and thus the kingdom Monera is divided into Archaebacteria and Eubacteria.

How many eukaryotes are in six kingdom classification? ›

Four are eukaryotes and two are prokaryotes.

Which kingdoms are eukaryotic? ›

The most influential system, the 'Whittaker' five kingdom structure, recognises Monera (prokaryotes) and four eukaryotic kingdoms: Animalia (Metazoa), Plantae, Fungi and Protista.

Which of the 6 kingdoms contain only eukaryotes? ›

Answer and Explanation: The Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia kingdoms are all within the Eukarya domain and, thus, are all made up of eukaryotic organisms.

What kingdom is prokaryotic? ›

There are two kingdoms of organisms that are classified as prokaryotic: bacteria and archaea. Instead of a nucleus, the genetic information of these single-celled organisms are stored in an area called the nucleoid.

How are prokaryotes and eukaryotes classified differently? ›

The primary distinction between these two types of organisms is that eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and prokaryotic cells do not. The nucleus is where eukaryotes store their genetic information.

What are the 5 kingdom classification of prokaryotes and eukaryotes? ›

The kingdom Monera is comprised of unicellular prokaryotic organisms. The other four kingdoms, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia are composed of all the eukaryotic organisms.

What are the classification of prokaryotes? ›

Classification. In 1977, Carl Woese proposed dividing prokaryotes into the Bacteria and Archaea (originally Eubacteria and Archaebacteria) because of the major differences in the structure and genetics between the two groups of organisms.

What are the prokaryotic groups and how they differ from eukaryotes? ›

Prokaryotes are always unicellular, while eukaryotes are often multi-celled organisms. Additionally, eukaryotic cells are more than 100 to 10,000 times larger than prokaryotic cells and are much more complex. The DNA in eukaryotes is stored within the nucleus, while DNA is stored in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes.

What are the two domains prokaryotes and eukaryotes in classification? ›

Prokaryotic organisms belong either to the domain Archaea or the domain Bacteria; organisms with eukaryotic cells belong to the domain Eukarya. Microorganism transfer genes to other microorganisms through horizontal gene transfer - the transfer of DNA to an organism that is not its offspring.

What are the 8 levels of taxonomic classification? ›

The current taxonomic system now has eight levels in its hierarchy, from lowest to highest, they are: species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain.

What is the 8 kingdom classification system? ›

Hint: The eight kingdom system of classification was given by Thomas Cavalier-Smith. The eight kingdom system of classification includes the kingdom Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Archezoa, Protozoa, Chromista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia.

What are the 11 classifications of animal kingdoms? ›

Animal kingdom is classified into various phylums such as Phylum Porifera, Phylum Coelenterata (Cnidaria), Phylum Ctenophora, Phylum Platyhelminthes, Phylum Aschelminthes, Phylum Annelida, Phylum Arthropoda, Phylum Mollusca, Phylum Echinodermata, Phylum Hemichordata and Phylum Chordata.

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