Animal Kingdom – Classification of Animals: NEET MCQs with Answers

15 free questions on Animal Kingdom – Classification of Animals for NEET (UG), starting with previous-year NEET and AIPMT questions. Try each one, then tap Show answer for the answer and a short explanation.

Syllabus covered: Classification of Animals: classification of animals-nonchordate up to phyla level and chordate up to classes level (three to five salient features and at least two examples).

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Question 1

Previous-year question
Match the biological names in List-I with the common names in List-II and choose the correct option. [NEET (Sawaimadhopur) 2024]
List-I (Biological name):
A. Asterias
B. Antedon
C. Echinus
D. Ophiura
List-II (Common name):
I. Sea urchin
II. Brittle star
III. Sea lily
IV. Star fish
  1. A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II
  2. A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
  3. A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
  4. A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
Show answer
Answer: (A) A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II
Explanation: Asterias is the star fish, Antedon the sea lily, Echinus the sea urchin and Ophiura the brittle star. Hence A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II.

Question 2

Previous-year question
In which group do all the animals have a three-chambered heart? [NEET (Sawaimadhopur) 2024]
  1. Chameleon, Hyla, Calotes
  2. Crocodilus, Pavo, Clarias
  3. Exocoetus, Hemidactylus, Rana
  4. Bufo, Alligator, Struthio
Show answer
Answer: (A) Chameleon, Hyla, Calotes
Explanation: Chameleon and Calotes are reptiles and Hyla (tree frog) is an amphibian, so all three have a three-chambered heart. Crocodilus, Alligator, Pavo and Struthio have four-chambered hearts, and Clarias and Exocoetus (fishes) have two-chambered hearts.

Question 3

Previous-year question
From the list of sexually reproducing animals below, pick the hermaphrodites. [NEET (Sawaimadhopur) 2024]
A. Cockroach
B. Leech
C. Housefly
D. Tapeworm
E. Earthworm
  1. C and D only
  2. B, D and E only
  3. A, C and E only
  4. A, B and D only
Show answer
Answer: (B) B, D and E only
Explanation: Leech, tapeworm and earthworm are hermaphrodites (bisexual), so B, D and E is correct. Cockroach and housefly, being insects, are dioecious (sexes separate).

Question 4

Previous-year question
Which statements about cyclostomes are INCORRECT? [Re-NEET 2022]
(a) They lack scales and paired fins.
(b) They have a circular mouth with jaws.
(c) They bear 6–15 pairs of gills.
(d) They migrate to the deep sea for spawning.
  1. (a) and (b) only
  2. (b) and (c) only
  3. (b) and (d) only
  4. (a) and (d) only
Show answer
Answer: (C) (b) and (d) only
Explanation: Cyclostomes have a sucking, circular mouth without jaws, and they migrate to fresh water for spawning (dying a few days later), so (b) and (d) are incorrect. They do lack scales and paired fins and have 6–15 pairs of gill slits.

Question 5

Previous-year question
Which animal has a three-chambered heart? [Re-NEET 2022]
  1. Scoliodon
  2. Hippocampus
  3. Chelone
  4. Pteropus
Show answer
Answer: (C) Chelone
Explanation: Chelone (turtle) is a reptile, and reptiles (except crocodiles) have a three-chambered heart. Scoliodon and Hippocampus are fishes with a two-chambered heart, and Pteropus (a mammal) has a four-chambered heart.

Question 6

Previous-year question
Which of the following features do NOT apply to chordates? [NEET (Overseas) 2022]
(a) Heart is dorsal.
(b) Pharynx is perforated by gill slits.
(c) Central nervous system is ventral, solid and single.
(d) Post-anal tail is present.
(e) Notochord is present.
  1. (a), (d) and (c) only
  2. (b) and (c) only
  3. (a) and (c) only
  4. (e) only
Show answer
Answer: (C) (a) and (c) only
Explanation: Chordates have a ventral heart and a dorsal, hollow, single nerve cord, so (a) and (c) are not true for them. Gill slits in the pharynx, a post-anal tail and a notochord are fundamental chordate features.

Question 7

Previous-year question
Read the two statements given below and select the most appropriate option. [NEET (Overseas) 2022]
Statement I: Amphibians and reptiles have a 3-chambered heart with two atria and a single ventricle, and are oviparous.
Statement II: Crocodiles possess a 4-chambered heart with two ventricles and two atria, and are viviparous.
  1. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
  2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct
  3. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are incorrect
  4. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Show answer
Answer: (D) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Explanation: Amphibians and reptiles (except crocodiles) have a three-chambered heart with two atria and one ventricle and are oviparous, so Statement I is correct. Crocodiles do have a four-chambered heart, but they are oviparous, not viviparous, so Statement II is incorrect.
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Question 8

Previous-year question
An air bladder is present in: [NEET (Overseas) 2022]
  1. Aves
  2. Cyclostomata
  3. Chondrichthyes
  4. Osteichthyes
Show answer
Answer: (D) Osteichthyes
Explanation: Bony fishes (Osteichthyes) possess an air bladder that regulates buoyancy. Cartilaginous fishes lack an air bladder and must swim constantly to avoid sinking; cyclostomes and birds do not have one either.

Question 9

Previous-year question
Identify the incorrect match. [NEET 2021 (Paper-2)]
  1. Doliolum – Urochordata – Subphylum
  2. Scoliodon – Pisces – Super class
  3. Bufo – Gnathostomata – Division
  4. Lamprey – Agnatha – Class
Show answer
Answer: (D) Lamprey – Agnatha – Class
Explanation: Agnatha is a division of subphylum Vertebrata, not a class; the lamprey (Petromyzon) belongs to class Cyclostomata under Agnatha, so this is the incorrect match. Doliolum is a urochordate (subphylum Urochordata), Scoliodon belongs to super class Pisces, and Bufo belongs to division Gnathostomata.

Question 10

Previous-year question
Which character is common to all vertebrates without any exception? [NEET 2021 (Paper-2)]
  1. Two pairs of limbs
  2. Exoskeleton
  3. External ears and body hairs
  4. Presence of vertebral column
Show answer
Answer: (D) Presence of vertebral column
Explanation: All vertebrates possess a vertebral column (cartilaginous or bony) that replaces the embryonic notochord. Limbs are absent in fishes and snakes, an exoskeleton is not universal, and external ears and hair are found only in mammals.

Question 11

Previous-year question
Single circulation is seen in: [NEET 2021 (Paper-2)]
  1. Neophron
  2. Scoliodon
  3. Pteropus
  4. Bufo
Show answer
Answer: (B) Scoliodon
Explanation: Scoliodon (dogfish) is a cartilaginous fish with a two-chambered heart (one auricle, one ventricle), so blood passes through the heart only once in each circuit. Birds (Neophron), mammals (Pteropus) and amphibians (Bufo) show double circulation.

Question 12

Previous-year question
Every vertebrate is a chordate, yet not every chordate is a vertebrate. What is the reason? [NEET (COVID-19) 2020]
  1. Notochord is replaced by vertebral column in the adult of some chordates.
  2. Ventral hollow nerve cord remains throughout life in some chordates.
  3. All chordates possess a vertebral column.
  4. All chordates possess a notochord throughout their life.
Show answer
Answer: (A) Notochord is replaced by vertebral column in the adult of some chordates.
Explanation: In vertebrates the embryonic notochord is replaced by a cartilaginous or bony vertebral column in the adult. This happens only in some chordates, so not all chordates are vertebrates. The chordate nerve cord is dorsal, not ventral. Protochordates never develop a vertebral column, and in vertebrates the notochord does not persist throughout life.

Question 13

Previous-year question
Match the genera in Column I with their common names in Column II and choose the correct option. [NEET (COVID-19) 2020]
Column I:
(a) Aptenodytes
(b) Pteropus
(c) Pterophyllum
(d) Petromyzon
Column II:
(i) Flying fox
(ii) Angel fish
(iii) Lamprey
(iv) Penguin
  1. (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
  2. (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
  3. (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)
  4. (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)
Show answer
Answer: (C) (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)
Explanation: Aptenodytes is the penguin, Pteropus the flying fox, Pterophyllum the angel fish and Petromyzon the lamprey. Hence a-iv, b-i, c-ii, d-iii.

Question 14

Previous-year question
Pick out the correct statement. [NEET-II 2016]
  1. All reptiles have a three-chambered heart.
  2. All pisces have gills covered by an operculum.
  3. All mammals are viviparous.
  4. All cyclostomes do not possess jaws and paired fins.
Show answer
Answer: (D) All cyclostomes do not possess jaws and paired fins.
Explanation: Cyclostomes (Agnatha) are jawless and lack paired fins. Crocodiles have a four-chambered heart, cartilaginous fishes have gills without an operculum, and the platypus (Ornithorhynchus) is an egg-laying mammal.

Question 15

Previous-year question
Which of the following statements are true for the phylum Chordata? [NEET 2020] (i) In Urochordata the notochord extends from head to tail and is present throughout their life. (ii) In Vertebrata the notochord is present during the embryonic period only. (iii) The central nervous system is dorsal and hollow. (iv) Chordata is divided into 3 subphyla: Hemichordata, Tunicata and Cephalochordata.
  1. (iii) and (i)
  2. (i) and (ii)
  3. (ii) and (iii)
  4. (i) and (iii)
Show answer
Answer: (C) (ii) and (iii)
Explanation: Statements (ii) and (iii) are correct. In Urochordata the notochord is present only in the LARVAL TAIL, and Chordata is divided into Urochordata, Cephalochordata and Vertebrata — Hemichordata is now a separate phylum.

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