Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Hymenoptera

Family: Formicidae

Genus:Atta

Species: Atta sexdens

Sub-species: Dorylus

Characteristics of the ants for each categories.

Animalia- has a extracellular matrix, heterotrophs, ingest and digest food internally, no cell wall, has tissues, and specialized organs, capable of complex and rapid movement, males and females, and hatch from a egg. (wwwsource 1)

Body- Has a segmented exoskeleton which is referred to as the cuticle. The cuticle has multiple layers which serve various functions. The head contains the jaws for feeding and sensory organs such as the eyes, the antennae, and a tongue. Ants also have other senses such as hearing, smell and touch through tiny hairs. Ants also have a heart but no real circulatory system. Muscles attached internally to their exoskeleton provide the means of movement for the body. Ants have various glands for digestion internally. At the tip of the gaster is the location of the anus, the genital duct, a poison organ, and the gland for scent. (www source 1)

Arthropoda- exoskeleton, a segmented body, multiple legs, and a hemocoel. Each segment of the ant has its specific function and are not repeated in the other segments. Each segment is fused together by Tagmosis to form the units such as the head, and the abdomen. The appendages are jointed to allow for movement. The exoskeleton provides muscle attachment, protection, and reduces water loss. The hemocoel is an open cavity in which the blood flows and bathes the tissues and organs. Ants lack blood vessels. ( www source 2 )

Insecta- six legs attached to the body. Enlongated and segmented body. An exoskeleton. 3 segments.

Hymenoptera- have wings at adult stage of their lives and the queen has them for her entire life. They lay eggs. Ants have a very regimented social system in which members are divided into worker, drone, and queen castes. (www source 3). Ants undergo complete metamorphosis or are holometabolous from a apodous (without legs) larvae into an adult with wings. Ants pollinate some plants and also co-exist inside with some as well. (www source 4). The jaws of ants are specially adapted for feeding, grasping, and protection. (Insects, Borror 1970). Ants fit into Hymenoptera mainly due to wing venation, legs, antannae,pronotrum, and their oviposter. (insects, Borror,p.312)

Formicidae- First segment varies from remaining segments and has a dorsal hump. The antannae has 6 to 13 segments and a definite elbow in it. They live in colonies of potentially great numbers, usually in the ground. (insects, Borror, p344, 1970). Wasplike. Lack exocrine glands. Scavenger/ Predator. (Army Ants, Gotwald, p.13)

Dorylus- Wasplike appearance, workers all lack wings, different shape and size interim structure between second and third segments. Definite ant appearance which the head is larger in comparison to the body then it is with the wasp. Mandible adapted mainly to foraging. Queens are larger than any other queens known to exist. (Army Ants, Gotwald, p.18).

Dichthadia- Large males, flattened elongated body, head larger in comparison to other ants. Second segment as well as small segment between main body cavity and posterior segment unique to this species. Captures other ants for labor. Has stinging ability as well as acid secretion from jaws. (Army Ants, Gotwald p.22).

This organism is thought to have evolved during the Devonian era. 360 -408 million years ago.

References:

Internet sources:

1) www.ex.ac.uk/-gjlramel/anatomy.html ( An introduction to insect anatomy),

October 21, 1997.

2) www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/arthropoda.html (Introduction to Arthropoda), October 21, 1997.

3) www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/uniamia/hymenoptera.html (Hymenoptera), October 21, 1997.

4) www.ex.ac.uk/-gjlramel/hymenop.html (The Hymenoptera), October 21,97.

Book sources:

1) Army Ants, William H. Gotwald, Cornell University Press, 1995.

2) Insects, Donald J. Borror/ White, Peterson Field Guides, 1970.

Taxonomy names derived from the same sources listed above.

Kingdom- Animalia

Phylum-Chordata

Class- Mammalia

Order- Insectivora

Family- Erinaceidae

Genus- Echinosorex

Species- Echinosorex gymnura

Characteristics of the Moon Rat for each level:

Animalia- Has extracellular matrix, multicellular, are heterotrophs, ingest and digest food internally. Cells lack cell walls. Has organized cells which makeup tissues and tissues organized into specialized organs. Capable of complex and rapid movement. Reproduce sexually by means of differentiated eggs and sperm. Are diploid. Form from a zygote. Passes waste. Has sensory organs.

(internet source 1).Has closed circulatory system including a heart, and the blood contains hemoglobin. (internet source 3).

Chordata- Has multiple vertebrae with enclosed notochord. Has series of openings that connect the inside of the throat to the outside of the neck. Has a dorsal nerve cord running down its back that connects its brain with the muscles and the organs. Has a post-anal tail that extends past the anal opening. Has cartilage as well as bone structures. (internet source 3).

Mammalia- Produces milk to feed its young via mammary glands. Regulates its body temperature (warm blooded). 3 middle ear bones, and has hair made up of keratin. Differentiated teeth which undergo diphyodonty. Has a lower jaw that is made up of just one bone, a 4-chambered heart, a diaphragm, a highly developed brain, internal fertilization, and the sex of the embryo is determined by the presence of a Y or 2 X chromosomes. Mammals have a high metabolic rate. (internet source 4).

Insectivora- Feeds on insects and sometimes other invertebrates. Moon rats are small mammals which fits them for this order. They also rely heavily on their senses of hearing, smell, and touch, but not on vision. Smell is very well developed. Their teeth variety lack molars. Eyes are small and have five digit feet. (internet source 5).

Erinaceidae- Sizes vary from a mouse to a small rabbit. Usually identified by their dental formula. Active only at night. They are very resistant to snake venom. Live under logs or in burrows that they dig. Solitary except during mating seasons. Give off a strong odor when attacked. (Internet source 6).

Echinosorex- In the library encyclopedia it stated this name for the genus and for the species, but for the species they identified the animal. There was no information in the library or on the internet for the name by its-self, therefore I determined that it must separate the hedgehog with spines from the gymnura that doesn’t have the spines. These were the only two names provided as I went into the family characteristics. (Book source 1).

Echinosorex gymnura- Gymnura also known as a Moonrat. A small insect eating mammal found in Africa and S.E. Asia.

Class of this organism is thought to have evolved during the Mesozoic era.

(Internet source 2)

References:

Internet:

1) www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/phyla/metazoamm.html (October 21, 1997) Metazoa.

2) www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/chordata/chordata.html (Introduction to the Chordata).

3) www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/chordata/chordatamm.html (Chordata).

4)www.oit.itd.umich.edu/bio108/Chordata/Mammalia.shtml (Mammalia).

5) www.oit.itd.umich.edu/bio108/Chordata/Mammalia/Insectivora.shtml (Order Insectivora)

6) www.oit.itd.umich.edu/bio108/Chordata/Mammalia/Insectivora/Erinaceidae.

html (Erinaceidae- hedgehogs and gymnures).

Books:

1) International Wildlife Encyclopedia, Marshall Cavendish, page 1186.

Taxonomy names derived from same sources listed above.