An animal is a complex, multicellular organism that belongs to the biological kingdom Animalia – the animal kingdom. Animals range from relatively simple organisms such as sponges and jellyfish to complex ones such as humans and elephants.
Although scientifically humans are animals, in everyday usage, animal often refers to any member of the animal kingdom that is not a human being, and sometimes excludes insects (although including such arthropods as crabs).
The largest animal ever known is the blue whale, which can be as long as 110 feet (that's longer than three school buses!) and weigh as much as 190 tons! On land, the African bush elephant is the biggest, weighing up to 12.25 tons.
The word animal comes from the Latin noun animal of the same meaning, which is itself derived from Latin animalis 'having breath or soul'. [5] The biological definition includes all members of the kingdom Animalia. [6]
animal, (kingdom Animalia), any of a group of multicellular eukaryotic organisms (i.e., as distinct from bacteria, their deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is contained in a membrane-bound nucleus).
Welcome to Animalia, an online animal encyclopedia where you can learn about all your favourite animals, and even some you may have never heard of.
This A-Z directory covers 630+ animal species found around the world — from household pets to the planet’s most dangerous predators. Each guide covers habitat, diet, behaviour, breeding patterns, lifespan, identification features, and conservation status.
A-Z Animals Listing | A Complete List of Animals | Animal Corner
Animals A to Z index of animal facts, animal information and animal photos for quick facts on over 100 species of animals