Aim of the experiment: To study the museum specimens and to identify them with reasons.

A. Amoeba proteus

Kingdom: Protista
Phylum: Protozoa
Class: Sarcodine
Order: Amoebida
Genus: Amoeba
Species: proteus

Fig.: Amoeba proteus

General identifying characters:

1. It is a microscopic, unicellular entity with a diameter of 0.2-0.5mm, appearing greyish

in colour.

2. Exhibit pseudopodia – They are blunt and finger-like projections that are used in
locomotion and phagocytosis

3. They exhibit contractile vacuole

4. When observed under a microscope, amoeba seems to be like a jelly that has an irregular
shape containing a little mass of hyaline protoplasm. This protoplasm can be classified
into a notable inner endoplasm and outer ectoplasm.

5.
B. Fasciola hepatica (Liver Fluke)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Trematoda
Order: Echinostoma
Genus: Fasciola
Species: hepatica

Fig: Fasciola hepatica

General identifying characters:

1. Usually found in internal organs such as bile ducts of goats, sheep, and cattle as it is
an endoparasite. It is sometimes also found in a few vertebrates but not in humans.

2. They are known to cause liver rot – a disease of the liver

3. It resembles a triangular shape that is flat and leaf-like parasite approximately 25mm
long. It possesses a ventral an oval sucker known as the acetabulum which adheres to
the bile duct.

4. The body of the liver fluke is covered with cuticle with spinules.
C. Ascaris lumbricoides (Round worm)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nemathelminths
Class: Nematoda
Order: Ascaroidea
Genus: Ascaris
Species: lumbricoides

Fig.: Ascaris lumbricoides

General identifying characters:

1. It is an endoparasite found in the intestine of man.

2. It can cause weakness, anaemia, laziness and adverse abdominal discomfort

3. The body is long, cylindrical and unsegmented with pointed edges.

4. The body is covered by a soft and thin cuticle that is marked with fine striations.

5. The body shows four longitudinal ridges throughout the body

6. The anterior end of the body possesses a mouth.

7. On the ventral surface, the excretory pore is located just a little behind the mouth.

8. They are unisexual, exhibiting a well-defined sexual dimorphism.

D. Pheretima posthuma (Earth worm)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Oligochaeta
Order: Terricelae
Genus: Pheretima
Species: posthuma

Fig.: Pheretima posthuma

General identifying characters:

1. Commonly found in moist soil.

2. The body is long, triploblastic, cylindrical, eucoelomate and metamerically segmented.

3. The mouth is at the anterior end and anus at the posterior end.

4. The clitellum (a circular band of glandular tissue) is located at the 14th, 15th, and 16th
segments

5. Earthworms are hermaphrodites.

6. Presence of a single female genital aperture mid-ventrally in the 14th segment.

7. Presence of a pair of male genital apertures ventrolaterally in the 18th segment.

8. A pair of genital papillae are located ventrolaterally in the 17th and the 19th segment.
E. Palaemon malcolmsonii (Freshwater Prawn)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Crustacea
Order: Decapoda
Genus: Palaemon
Species: malcolmsonii

Fig.: Palaemon malcolmsonii

General identifying characters:

1. It is a freshwater entity that is found in ponds, lakes and rivers.

2. The body is laterally compressed and protected by a chitinous exoskeleton. The body
exhibits an anterior cephalothorax and a posterior abdomen

3. The cephalothorax is formed by the fusion of 5 segments that constitute the head and
the thorax is composed of 8 segments.

4. The carapace is an exoskeleton shield that protects the cephalothorax. Anteriorly, it is

produced into a serrated median process known as the rostrum.

5. Pair of stalked eyes at the base of the rostrum.

6. There is one pair of appendage at each segment of the cephalothorax. 5 pairs in the head
region, 8 pairs of the thoracic region. The last 5 pairs are for walking known as
pereopods.

7. The abdomen has 6 segments followed by a telson which is a conical flat piece.
F. Apis cerana indica (Indian Honey Bee)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Genus: Apis
Species: cerana
Sub-species: indica

Fig.: Apis cerana indica

General identifying characters:

1. Body is divided into three (3) segments: head, thorax and abdomen.
2. Body is covered with an exoskeleton.
3. Body is consisting of 3 pairs of legs, 2 pairs of wings and a pair of antennae.
4. Life cycle of honey bee completes in four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult.
5. Honey bees are economically important insects.
G. Labeo rohita (Rohu fish)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cypriniformes
Genus: Labeo
Species: rohita

Fig.: Labeo rohita

General identifying characters:

1. It is a fresh water bony fish hat is found in rivers and ponds. It is a source of high protein
food.

2. The body is compressed, fusiform and matures up to 1m in length. The body is

distinguished into the head, trunk, and tail and is covered by a large overlapping cycloid
scales

3. Head is depressed to form a blunt snout and has a subterminal fringe lipped mouth with
no teeth, a pair of eyes and nostrils

4. Four pairs of gill slits on the lateral side of the body behind the eyes. The gill slits are
covered by an operculum. The lateral line is clear and distinct.

5. The trunk comprises of a pair of pectoral fins, a pair of pelvic fins, a dorsal fin a ventral
or anal fin and a homocercal caudal fin.
H. Hemidactylus sp. (House Lizard)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Genus: Hemidactylus

Fig.: Hemidactylus sp.

General identifying characters:

1. It is typically brown in colour and is 8-14cm in length.

2. The body can be distinguished into the head that is thick and flattered, the neck is short,
the trunk is large with a tapering tail.

3. The head has a pair of eyes having movable eyelids, ear openings and nostrils.

4. The skin is covered with tiny scales and is dry.

5. The tail has annular pores of scales. These scales can be broken.

6. They have four limbs, each having five clawed digits.

I. Columba livia (Pigeon)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Genus: Columba
Species: livia

Fig.: Columba livia

General identifying characters:

1. It is adapted for an aerial or volant mode of life and is a common domesticated bird.

2. The body is boat-shaped and can be distinguished into the head, trunk and tail.

3. The entire body surface except the feet is covered by feathers. The feet are covered by
epidermal scutes

4. The head has a pair of eyes, a pair of slit-like nostrils and a short beak.

5. Eyes are large, rounded with movable eyelids and a nictitating membrane that is well
developed.

6. The forelimbs are modified into wings to take a flight.

7. The hind limbs are pushed forward for bipedal locomotion. The digits end in claws.

8. They have pneumatic bones. Teeth are absent and the skull is monocondylar.
J. Orytolagus cuniculus (Rabbit)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Genus: Orytolagus
Species: cuniculus

Fig.: Orytolagus cuniculus

General identifying characters:

• The body can be distinguished into a head, trunk, neck and a small bushy tail.

• The entire body is covered with hair of black or brown colour

• The presence of two largely movable pinned behind the eyes. The colour of the eyes is
pink.

• The mouth appears to have fleshy and soft lower and upper lips

• Sexual dimorphism is observed. Sexes are distinct and separate

• They possess the characteristic mammary glands, which end in nipples, located in the
abdominal region.