Class 11 Biological Classification: Get All Details Here

The second chapter of the class 11 Biology syllabus focuses on delving into the concept of Biological Classification. Through relatable examples and the sequential presentation of concepts mentioned in the chapter, students will understand how the animals we may encounter in daily lives are classified as per biology. Since the class 11 Biological Classification chapter is a detailed one, we are here to help you with simplified study notes to get the foundational and conceptual understanding of how living organisms are classified and subdivided into categories based on basic similarities and dissimilarities between them.

Class 11 Biological Classification Overview

The identification of characteristics among living organisms and grouping them based on their features is called biological classification. The study of the classification of living organisms is important because it assists us:

• To study only one or two organisms under each classified category to learn about the common features of the group. In the absence of classification, it would become impossible to study every organism by itself.
• To understand the origin and evolution of the classified species.
• To know the correlation between various groups of organisms.
• To identify new organisms and classify them easily.

History of Biological Classification 

Aristotle was the first person to explore the classification of animals. His process of classification was based on mere observation of morphological characteristics among animals. The two major groups were formed based on whether the organism had red blood cells or did not have any red blood cells. Carolus Linnaeus introduced the Two Kingdom system of classification, namely; the Plantae Kingdom and the Animalia Kingdom. This classification made it easy to classify plants and animals. However, some organisms did not fit either of these categories.

R.H. Whittaker proposed the division of organisms into five main kingdoms, namely, Kingdom Monera, Protista, Fungi, Animalia, and Plantae. The criteria for classification were based on cell structure, mode of nutrition, reproduction, body organisation, and phylogenetic relationships. 

Let us now take a detailed look at the kingdoms mentioned in the class 11 biological classification chapter

Kingdom Monera

The bacteria which is found almost everywhere around is the only member of Kingdom Monera:

• Bacteria can survive in extreme weather conditions and can be found in snowy areas, deep oceans, and hot springs. They even can survive on other living organisms such as parasites 
• The bacteria have a very simple structure. However, their behaviour is complex
• They are grouped as per their shape; spherical Coccus (cocci), rod-shaped Bacillus (bacilli), comma-shaped Vibrium (vibrio), and spiral Spirillum (spirilla)
• Bacteria are either autotrophic or heterotrophic. Autotrophic bacteria are capable of making their food from inorganic substances. Heterotrophic bacteria depend on other living organisms or dead matter for food
• The archaebacteria are unique bacteria due to their cell wall structure. Methanogens, a type of archaebacteria live in the gut of ruminating animals  
• The eubacteria ‘true-bacteria’ are single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms capable of producing their food. Some of them play important roles like; helping milk curdle, recycling nutrients, fixing nitrogen in the roots of legumes, etc. 

Kingdom Protista

They are single-celled eukaryotes and are found in aquatic regions.  

• A well-defined nucleus and organised membranes form the cell body 
• Some types of Protista possess flagella or cilia
• Through cell fusion and formation of the zygote, they reproduce both sexually and asexually

Sub-Grouping of Protista:

As per the class 11 biological classification chapter, the Protista Kingdom is further divided into:

Chrysophytes
Diatoms and golden algae fall under this group. They can be spotted in freshwater areas and marine environments. They are photosynthetic. 

Dinoflagellates
They are marine organisms and possess photosynthetic properties. Depending on the cell pigment, they appear yellow, green, brown, blue, or red. Their cell walls are stiff with cellulose plates on the outer surface. 

Euglenoids
They are usually freshwater organisms and can be spotted in stagnant water. In the presence of sunlight, they make use of their photosynthetic nature. On being deprived of sunlight, they feed on smaller organisms.

Slime Moulds
They are saprophytic and feed on decaying twigs, leaves, and organic matter. They survive for a long time even under adverse conditions. 

Protozoans
All protozoans are predators and feed on parasites. They are classified into four types, namely; Amoeboid protozoans, Flagellated protozoans, Ciliated protozoans, and Sporozoans. 

Kingdom Fungi 

As per the class 11 biological classification chapter, Fungi can be found in air, water, soil, plants, and animals and some of their major characteristics are:

• They are heterotrophic organisms and absorb nutrients from dead substrates 
• Most fungi are multicellular with yeast as an exception
• Their bodies are long and slender, and the thread-like structure is called hyphae. A network of hyphae forms the mycelium
• Sub-grouping of Fungi includes; Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetes

Kingdom Plantae

All organisms under Plantae contain chlorophyll and prepare food on their own. 

• Being Eukaryotes, their cells are covered in a nuclear envelope and are made with cellulose.
• The insectivorous plants (Venus flytrap) and parasites (Cuscuta) are an exception and are partly heterotrophic. 
• This Kingdom commonly includes all algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.
• Plants have two life cycle stages termed as, diploid gametophyte stage and haploid sporophyte stage. The duration of diploid and haploid phases varies between different groups of plants. This experience is termed as alternation of generation.

Kingdom Animalia 

According to class 11 biological classification, Animalia is heterotrophic and cannot prepare their food. 

• Being eukaryotic, the nucleus is protected by a nuclear envelope. 
• They are multicellular but don’t have a cell wall.
• They depend on plants for food, either directly or indirectly.
• Their digestion happens in a cavity inside the body, and they store food in the form of glycogen or fats.
• Their growth pattern is defined in which animals grow into adults having defined shapes, sizes, and structures.
• Some have elaborated sensory and neuromotor mechanisms.

Virus, Viroid, Prions, and Lichens 

The five-kingdom mentioned in biological classification chapter for class 11 does not specify the categorisation of some acellular organisms such as Viruses, Viroid, Prions, and Lichens. 

Viruses
These are non-cellular organisms containing nucleic acid, which is enclosed by a protein coat. Viruses contain genetic materials, either RNA or DNA (never both). They cause a number of diseases in plants and animals. 

Viroid
It is a new infectious organism even smaller than the virus and lacks RNA or a protein coat. 

Prion
They are of similar size as the virus and consist of abnormally folded proteins. They cause neurological diseases such as mad cow diseases (cattle) and Cr–Jakob disease.

Lichens
They have a mutual association of algae and fungi. The algae form is phycobiont (autotrophic), and the fungal form is mycobiont (heterotrophic). 

Class 11 Biological Classification: Important Questions

As we are done with the explanation of important concepts of class 11 biological classification chapter, here are some important exam questions for this chapter:

1. How have biological classification systems undergone changes over a period of time?
2. What are the features of heterotrophic bacteria and archaebacteria? 
3. Explain how viroids are different from viruses?
4. Describe four important groups of Protozoa.
5. Name some plants that are partially heterotrophic.
6. What is the basis of classifying living organisms into its five-kingdom classification?

Class 11 Biological Classification PDF

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