o What are the characteristics that classify all the species you have selected in the kingdom Animalia?
Animalia is defined as the “taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals” (Animalia, 2006). There are 1.4 million species recorded in the world, but the number of actual species are probably closer to 10 million. 70 percent of the world species can be found in the following countries (Species Estimate, 2007) : Australia, Brazil, China, Columbia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Peru, and Zaire. The Kingdom Animalia includes the following species: mammals, insects, birds, echinoderms, and etcetera. In this paper we will discuss two from the following areas: mammals (cats and dogs), insects (ants and flies), pigeon and chicken (birds) and echinoderms (star fish and sand dollar). o Mammals
The domestic cat or also known as species Felis catus (Cat, 2009) can be dated back about 3500 to ancient Egypt. They were used as pets and mousers. Over time, cats have been worshipped or deemed evil because of their association with witches. The weigh an average of 6 to 10 pounds. Cats unlike dogs move by using their front and back legs on one side first, then the other. Cats like dogs are also very smart and carnivorus. Like dogs, they are skillful hunters, but unlike dogs, they are very nimbled and skilled on their feet.
The domestic dog or also known as the species Canis lupus familiaris (dog, 2009) may have been around for almost 60 million years in what we now consider Asia. They are related to the fox and wolf and is considered man’s best friend. The weigh an average of a dog depends on the type, sex and breed. Dogs can be from under 10lbs to over 80lbs. They can be hunters like the cat, but this depends on the breed. Dogs can also be trained. Cats can be trained as well, but it is more difficult.
Differences and similarities
Cats and dogs are both are domestic and from the carnorvia. Cats and generally independent and will care for themselves as where a dog must be walked. The two of them hear and smell better humans, their senses are also more heightened than a human’s. Cats unlike dogs have re-tractable claws. They also have very good balance and can see exceptionally well. Unlike cats, dogs cannot see well in color. Also since they can be trained better than cats, they are used more than cats as aides to humans.
 List two other species that belong to those same orders.
Other species would be lions (a relative to the cat) and the wolf (related to the dog). o Insects
The house fly also known as the Musca domestica Linnaeus has an average lifespan of 15 to 30 days. Like ants they can lay and fertilize multiple eggs at one time. Like ants they live in colonies and go through cycles of metamorphosis. They begin as larvae in the egg and over a few days become the inspects we know today.
The ant from the Formicidae family have been in existence for millions of years. The ants like flies go through metamorposis in four stages: the egg, the larvae, a pupae, that is encased in a cocoon and the adult form. Ant eggs are very very tiny and hard to see. Flies in their pupae stage are called maggots. Both of these insects feed off leftover trash, deceased animals or fruits and vegetations.
Two other insects in this species would be bees and wasps.

References
Animalia. (2006). Retrieved 04 15, 2009, from WordNet Search: http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=kingdom%20animalia
Cat. (2009). Retrieved 04 15, 2009, from Encyclopedia Brittanic: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/168536/domestic-cat/59421/Other-traits dog. (2009). Retrieved 04 15, 2009, from Encyclopedia Brittanica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/167647/dog
Species Estimate. (2007). Retrieved 04 15, 2009, from BioDiversity: http://www.explorebiodiversity.com/Mexico/Pages/Habitats/species.htm