In this article we will discuss about the spot identification of different animals.

I. Protozoa:

Balantidium sp.:

(Fig. 36.1)

Balantidium sp.

1. Unicellular animal.

2. Short cilia cover whole body.

3. Cytopharynx present.

4. Micro- and macronucleus present.

5. Contractile vacuoles two with radiating canals.

Systematic position:

Subkingdom — Protozoa

Phylum — Ciliophora

Class — Kinetofragminophorea

Subclass — Vestibuliferia

Order — Trichostomatida

Genus — Balantidium

II. Aschelminthes:

i. Oxyuris sp.:

(Fig. 36.2)

Oxyuris sp.

1. Body narrow, long, round and ringed.

2. Caudal alae supported by a pair of pre-anal and a pair of postanal papillae.

3. Pharynx with a posterior bulb.

Male:

4. The tail obliquely truncate behind cloaca.

Female:

4. The tail is long.

5. Vulva anteriorly situated.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Aschelminthes

Class — Nematoda

Order — Oxyuroidea

Genus — Oxyuris

ii. Trichinella sp. (Whip worm):

(Fig. 36.3)

Trichinella sp.

1. Un-segmented, parasitic round worm.

2. Body slender, filiform anteriorly.

3. Mouth without lips.

4. Pharynx slender, provided with a stichosome.

Male:

5. Small size.

6. Posterior end flattened due to copulatory lobe.

Female:

5. Large size.

6. Vulva anterior.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Aschelminthes

Class — Nematoda

Order — Trichinelloidea

Genus — Trichinella

III. Annelida:

Tubifex sp.:

(Fig. 36.4)

Tubifex sp.

1. Body cylindrical, metamerically seg­mented.

2. Bilaterally symmetrical.

3. Narrower in the posterior end.

4. Bundles of setae on both the ventral and dorsal surfaces.

5. The animal lives in tube made up of mud and minerals glued together.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Annelida

Class — Oligochaeta

Order — Archioligochaeta

Genus — Tube-fix

IV. Arthropoda:

i. Mantis sp. (Praying mantis):

(Fig. 36.5)

Mantis sp.

1. Body narrow and divisible into head, thorax and abdomen.

2. Jointed appendages.

3. Head bears compound eyes and antennae.

4. Mouth parts biting type.

5. Prothorax slender and long.

6. Wings folded flat and overlap the sides of the body.

7. Tibia of fore legs pincer-like for grasping prey.

8. Middle and hind legs elongated.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Arthropoda

Subphylum — Mandibulata

Class — Insecta

Subclass — Pterygota

Order — Dictyoptera

Genus — Mantis

ii. Belostoma sp. (Giant water bug):

(Fig. 36.6)

Belostoma sp.

1. Body dorsoventrally flattened, divi­sible into head, thorax and abdo­men.

2. Length about 11.5 cm.

3. Anterior legs inserted near anterior edge of prosternum.

4. Antennae four jointed.

5. Mouth parts piercing and sucking type.

6. Thoracic legs 3 pairs, posterior legs flattened, adapted for swimming.

7. Wings leathery, half membranous and reticulate.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Arthropoda

Subphylum — Mandibulata

Class — Insecta

Subclass — Pterygota

Order — Hemiptera

Genus — Belostoma

V. Mollusca:

Pholas sp.:

(Fig. 36.7)

Pholas sp.

1. Soft bodied, un-segmented animal.

2. Body laterally compressed and enclosed in a mantle.

3. Protected by a calcareous bivalve shell.

4. No distinct head.

5. A plough-shaped foot.

6. A pair of gills on each side of the body.

7. Siphons long and united.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Mollusca

Class — Bivalvia

Order — Adapedonta

Genus — Pholas

VI. Echinodermata:

Clypeaster sp. (Cake urchin):

(Fig. 36.8)

Clypeaster sp.

1. Body extremely flattened, nearly circular in outline.

2. The test provided with short, delicate spines of almost same size.

3. Oral surface flat, aboral surface slightly convex.

4. Madreporite at the centre of the aboral plate.

5. Mouth communicates with five simple grooves.

6. Anus on the oral surface, close to the border.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Echinodermata

Subphylum — Echinozoa

Class — Echinoidea

Subclass — Euechinoidea

Order — Clypeastroida

Genus — Clypeaster

Vii. Chordata:

i. Pareophthalmus sp. (Mud skipper), and Boleophthalmus sp. (Mud skipper):

(Fig. 36.9)

Pareophthalmus sp.

Boleopthalmus sp.

1. Body elongate.

2. Head sub-cylindrical, covered by a warty skin.

3. Eyes very closely placed, movable to above the dorsal profile of head; lower eye-lid well developed.

4. Mouth slightly oblique.

5. Teeth on both jaws uni-serial.

6. Gill opening obliquely placed.

7. Dorsal fin separate; first dorsal fin with 5 spines;

8. Pelvic fins united and long.

9. Scales small, 125 in longitudinal series.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Teleostomi

Subclass — Actinopterygii

Superorder — Teleostei

Order — Perciformes

Genus — Boleophthalmus

Genus — Pareophthalmus

ii. Aplocheilus sp. (Previous generic name Panchax) (Fig. 36.10) [Trichoke, Techo-kha, Blue Panchax]:

Aplocheilus sp.

1. Body elongate, posteriorly complex, attain a length of 8.9 cm.

2. Upper side greenish, becoming dull white with a bluish iridescence on flanks and belly.

3. A distinct white occipital spot in the middle of the head.

4. Eyes large, head length equal to inter-orbital width.

5. Mouth terminal; teeth villiform, in several rows on jaw.

6. Anal fin almost square-shaped. Pelvic fin small, caudal fin rounded.

7. Scale farely large, 30-34 in longitudi­nal series.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Teleostomi

Subclass — Actinopterygii

Superorder — Teleostei

Order — Cyprinodontiformes

Genus — Aplocheilus

iii. Arius (= Tachysurus) (Sagar catfish):

(Fig. 36.11)

Arius sp.

1. Body elongate, robust, scale-less; snout and head broad and depre­ssed.

2. Barbels three pairs (no nasal barbels); maxillary pair reach to at-least middle of pectoral fins.

3. Dorsal and pectoral fins with a spine. A blackish adipose fin opposite to anal fin.

4. Gill membrane fused with each other and attached to isthmus.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Teleostomi

Subclass — Actinopterygii

Order — Siluriformes

Genus — Arius (= Tachysurus)

iv. Nandus sp.:

(Fig. 36.12)

Nandus sp.

1. Body oblong and fairly deep, com­pressed.

2. Mouth very large, highly protrusible; lower jaw projecting; maxilla reaching beyond hind edge of orbit.

3. Eyes large.

4. Nostrils close together, both close to eyes.

5. Operculum triangular with a single prominent spine.

6. Dorsal fin with 12 to 14 spines and 11 to 13 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 9 soft rays. Caudal fin slightly rounded.

7. Scales ctenoid.

8. Lateral line incomplete, interrupted at about 36th scale.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Teleostomi

Subclass — Actinopterygii

Order — Perciformes

Genus — Nandus

VIII. Reptilia:

Trionyx sp.:

1. Bilaterally symmetrical, dorsoventrally compressed body enclosed in a rigid shell formed by a dorsal carapace and a ventral plastron.

2. Limbs modified to paddles for swimming.

3. Digits of pentadactyl limbs clawed.

4. Head and neck retractile within the shell.

5. Jaws with horny sheath and without teeth.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Reptilia

Subclass — Anapsida

Order — Chelonia

Genus — Trionyx

IX. Aves:

i. Psittacula sp. (Tota):

1. Presence of an exoskeleton of feathers.

2. Plumage green.

3. Bill red, stout, narrow, sharp and hooked at the tip.

4. Bill with soft cere.

5. Teeth absent.

6. Fore limbs modified to wings.

7. Hind limbs with scales and clawed digits.

8. Toes two in front and one behind.

9. Hind limb adapted for grasping.

10. Sternum enlarged and with a median keel.

11. Tail very long.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Aves

Subclass — Neornithes

Superorder — Neognathae

Order — Psittaciformes

Genus — Psittacula

ii. Ploceus sp. (Babui):

(Fig. 36.13)

Polceus sp.

1. Presence of an exoskeleton of feathers.

2. Plumage dull-grey and white.

3. Beak small, stout and pointed.

4. Teeth absent.

5. Forelimbs modified to wings.

6. Hind limbs with scales and clawed digits; adapted for perching.

7. Toes 3 in front and 1 behind.

8. Sternum enlarged and with a median keel.

9. Tail short, represented as pygostyle.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Aves

Subclass — Neornithes

Superorder — Neognathae

Order — Passeriformes

Genus — Ploceus

iii. Dinopium (= Picus) (Wood pecker):

(Fig. 36.14)

Dinopium sp.

1. Presence of an exoskeleton of feathers.

2. Upper plumage golden yellow and black crown or crimson occipital crest.

3. Beak long and pointed.

4. Teeth absent.

5. Tongue long and protrusible.

6. Forelimbs modified into wings.

7. Hind limbs with scales and clawed digits.

8. Four toes, two directed forward and two behind.

9. Adapted for climbing.

10. Sternum enlarged and with a median keel.

11. Tail short, represented as pygostyle.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Aves

Subclass — Neornithes

Superorder — Neognathae

Order — Piciformes

Genus — Dinopium (= Picus)

X. Mammalia:

i. Rhinolophus sp. (Bat):

1. Small, insectivorous bats.

2. Body covered with soft fur.

3. Presence of large pinnae.

4. Forelimbs with a patagium and modified for flying.

5. Elongated second and fifth digits support the patagium. Only the thumb is clawed.

6. Hind limb digits with sharp claws.

7. Snout short.

8. Teeth thecodont and heterodont.

9. Tail small and included in inter-femoral membrane.

10. Presence of mammary glands and nipples.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Mammalia

Subclass — Theria

Infraclass — Eutheria

Order — Chiroptera

Suborder — Microchiroptera

Genus — Rhinolophus

ii. Manis sp. (Pangolin: Scaly ant eater):

1. Body roughly spindle-shaped with a long tapering tail.

2. Body covered with large, rounded, horny scales.

3. Snout short and pointed.

4. Eyes small.

5. Pinnae small.

6. Limbs short, with clawed digits.

7. Teeth absent.

8. Tongue long and protrusible.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Mammalia

Subclass — Theria

Infraclass — Eutheria

Order — Pholidota

Genus — Manis

iii. Herpestes sp. (Mongoose):

(Fig. 36.15)

Herpests sp.

1. Body roughly spindle-shaped with a long tapering tail and covered with soft fur.

2. Trunk dorsally haunched.

3. Head elongated with a pointed muzzle.

4. Pinnae medium-sized and round.

5. Complicated folds in the pinna close ear opening, if necessary.

6. Limbs short with 5 digits in each.

7. Digits of the hind limb clawed.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Mammalia

Subclass — Theria

Infraclass — Eutheria

Order — Carnivora

Genus — Herpestes

iv. Mus sp. (Mouse):

Mus sp.

1. Body divisible into distinct head, neck, trunk and tail. Covered with soft fur.

2. Head slightly compressed laterally with a pointed snout.

3. Mouth opening narrow and bounded by soft upper and lower lips.

4. The upper lip is cleft in the middle.

5. Whiskers present on either side of the nostrils.

6. Upper and lower eyelids with eye lashes.

7. Pinnae large and round.

8. The neck is short.

9. Tail cylindrical, longer than the trunk, and covered with epidermal scales arranged in rings.

10. Incisors one pair, chisel-like and exposed.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Mammalia

Subclass — Theria

Infraclass — Eutheria

Order — Rodentia

Genus — Mus

v. Lemur sp.:

(Fig. 36.17)

Lemur sp.

1. Body covered with hairs.

2. Limbs suited for grasping and supporting.

3. Polex and hallux opposable.

4. Second digit of the foot bears a pointed claw.

5. Other digits have flat nails.

6. Face long and fox-like.

7. Eyes surrounded by long orbit.

8. Lips adherent to the gums and not protrusible.

9. The first pair of incisors separated in the middle line.

Systematic position:

Phylum — Chordata

Subphylum — Vertebrata

Superclass — Gnathostomata

Class — Mammalia

Subclass — Theria

Infraclass — Eutheria

Order — Primates

Suborder — Lemuroidea

Genus —Lemur

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