Question

List the five kingdoms into which living organisms are divided, and give at least one example of an organism belonging to each kingdom.

Short answer

The five kingdoms are Monera (E. coli), Protista (Amoeba proteus), Fungi (yeast), Plantae (maize), and Animalia (gray wolf).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Five Kingdoms

List the five kingdoms into which living organisms are classified. These are: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Give an Example for Monera

Monera contains unicellular organisms without a nucleus. An example of an organism in this kingdom is Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Give an Example for Protista

Protista includes mostly unicellular organisms with a nucleus. An example of an organism in this kingdom is Amoeba proteus.

Give an Example for Fungi

Fungi are organisms that absorb nutrients from organic materials in their environment. An example of an organism in this kingdom is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as yeast.

Give an Example for Plantae

Plantae consists of multicellular organisms capable of photosynthesis. An example of an organism in this kingdom is Zea mays, commonly known as maize or corn.

Give an Example for Animalia

Animalia includes multicellular organisms that are usually mobile and obtain food by ingestion. An example of an organism in this kingdom is Canis lupus, commonly known as the gray wolf.

Key concepts

Monera

Monera is one of the five kingdoms of living organisms. It includes the simplest and smallest life forms: bacteria. These organisms are unicellular and do not have a nucleus. Instead, their genetic material floats freely within the cell.
Examples of Monera include Escherichia coli (E. coli).
E. coli is a type of bacteria that lives in the intestines of humans and animals. While most strains are harmless, some can cause food poisoning.

Monera are crucial for many ecological processes, such as decomposing organic matter and nitrogen fixation, which enriches soil fertility.

Protista

Protista is a diverse kingdom that includes mostly unicellular organisms that have a nucleus. Unlike Monera, protists have more complex cell structures and can be found in various moist environments.
Examples of Protista include Amoeba proteus, a well-known example of a single-celled organism that uses its pseudo-pods for movement and to engulf food.
Protists can be autotrophic (making their own food through photosynthesis) or heterotrophic (relying on external food sources).
This kingdom serves as an evolutionary bridge between the simpler Monera and the more complex kingdoms of Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Fungi

Fungi are a kingdom of mostly multicellular organisms that absorb nutrients from organic materials in their environment. They play a critical role in decomposing dead organic matter and recycling nutrients within ecosystems.
Examples of Fungi include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as yeast.
Yeast is essential in baking and brewing, as it ferments sugars to produce carbon dioxide and alcohol.
Unlike plants, fungi do not conduct photosynthesis. Their cell walls contain chitin instead of cellulose, which is found in plants.
Another familiar example includes mushrooms, which we often see growing on forest floors or in gardens.

Plantae

Plantae comprises multicellular organisms that are capable of photosynthesis, which allows them to convert sunlight into energy.
Examples of Plantae include Zea mays, commonly known as maize or corn.
Plants have cell walls made of cellulose and contain chlorophyll, which gives them their green color.
They are indispensable to life on Earth, providing oxygen and acting as the base of many food chains. Besides photosynthesis, plants have structural features like roots, stems, and leaves that allow them to grow and reproduce efficiently in various environments.

Animalia

Animalia encompasses multicellular organisms that are usually mobile and obtain food by ingestion. These organisms exhibit various forms of movement and complex behaviors.
Examples of Animalia include Canis lupus, commonly known as the gray wolf.
Animals lack cell walls and have specialized tissues and organs that perform a variety of functions.
This kingdom is highly diverse, ranging from simple organisms like sponges to complex ones like humans.
Animals play various roles in ecosystems, such as being predators, prey, or decomposers, thus maintaining ecological balance.