Opisthokont Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Opisthokont Temporal range: 1010–0Ma Had'n Archean Proterozoic Pha.

Clockwise, from top left: Abeoforma whisleri (Mesomycetozoea); Amanita muscaria (Fungi); Desmarella moniliformis (Choanoflagellatea); bonnet macaque (Metazoa); Nuclearia thermophila (Nucleariida); Ministeria vibrans (Filasterea)
Scientific classification
(unranked):	Unikonta
(unranked):	Obazoa
(unranked):	Opisthokonta Copeland 1956, emend. Cavalier-Smith 1987, emend. Adl et al., 2005
Subgroups
Holomycota Holozoa

The opisthokonts are a broad group of eukaryotes, including both the animal and fungus kingdoms. That means they're living things with cells that contain a nucleus, and they're part of a really big family tree of life. Think of it like this: all living things are connected, and Opisthokonta is one of the major branches on that giant family tree. We're talking about millions and millions of species!

The study of Opisthokonta is an ongoing adventure. Scientists are constantly discovering new species and learning more about the evolutionary relationships within this supergroup. It's a testament to the incredible diversity and complexity of life on Earth.

What makes an Opisthokont an Opisthokont?
Animals and fungi
- Animalia
- Fungi
Deep connections
Images for kids
See also

What makes an Opisthokont an Opisthokont?

The name "Opisthokonta" comes from the Greek words "opisthos," meaning "behind," and "kontos," meaning "flagellum." A flagellum (plural: flagella) is like a tiny tail that some single-celled organisms use to swim. So, what's special about the flagellum in Opisthokonts? Well, in most Opisthokont cells that have a flagellum, it's located at the back end of the cell – hence, "opistho." This is a key characteristic that helps scientists group these organisms together. Think of it like a secret family code!

Animals and fungi

Opisthokonta is primarily divided into two massive branches: Animalia (animals) and Fungi (fungi). These might seem really different, but they're actually closely related, sharing that common ancestor with the posterior flagellum! Let's dive deeper into each:

Animalia

This branch is filled with all sorts of animals, from tiny microscopic creatures to enormous whales! We're talking about:

Sponges: These simple animals live in water and filter food from the surrounding water. They’ve been around for a very long time, with fossil evidence dating back over 500 million years!

Cnidarians: Think jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones! They have stinging cells called nematocysts to capture prey. Coral reefs, built by coral animals, are incredibly diverse ecosystems, supporting thousands of different species. The Great Barrier Reef, for example, is over 2,300 kilometers long!

Worms: This is a huge group, including earthworms, flatworms, and segmented worms. Earthworms are incredibly important for soil health, helping to aerate and enrich the soil. They can move surprisingly large amounts of soil—a single worm can move up to 10 kilograms of soil in a year!

Mollusks: This group includes snails, slugs, clams, oysters, and squid. Mollusks have soft bodies, and many have shells for protection. Giant clams can weigh over 200 kilograms.

Arthropods: This is the largest group of animals, including insects, spiders, crustaceans, and centipedes. Scientists estimate there are over a million described species of insects alone, and likely many millions more yet to be discovered.

Echinoderms: This group includes starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. They have spiny skins and usually live in the ocean.

Vertebrates: This group includes animals with backbones, such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals – and that includes you! There are over 65,000 vertebrate species known to science. Vertebrates have evolved over hundreds of millions of years, adapting to every imaginable habitat on Earth.

Fungi

Fungi are also incredibly diverse, playing vital roles in ecosystems worldwide. They include:

Yeast: These single-celled fungi are used in baking and brewing. They reproduce through a process called budding, where a new cell grows out from an existing cell.

Mushrooms: These are just the fruiting bodies of a much larger organism, the mycelium, which is a network of thread-like structures underground. Some mushrooms are edible, while others are poisonous—never eat a mushroom unless an adult who knows about mushrooms tells you it's safe! The largest known living organism is a honey fungus in Oregon, covering over 2,385 acres!

Molds: These fungi grow on decaying organic matter, helping to break it down. Some molds produce antibiotics, like penicillin, which is used to fight bacterial infections. Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming.

Mycorrhizae: These are fungi that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants. This means they live together and help each other. The fungi help the plants absorb nutrients from the soil, and the plants provide the fungi with sugars. Mycorrhizae are essential for the health of many ecosystems.

Deep connections

Though animals and fungi seem very different on the surface, they share some surprising similarities at the cellular level. Both groups have similar cell structures in some aspects and use similar methods to store energy. And remember that shared ancestor with the posterior flagellum? That's a very strong indicator of their close evolutionary relationship.