An"i*mal (&?;), n. [L., fr. anima
breath, soul: cf. F. animal. See Animate.] 1.
An organized living being endowed with sensation and the power of
voluntary motion, and also characterized by taking its food into an
internal cavity or stomach for digestion; by giving carbonic acid to the
air and taking oxygen in the process of respiration; and by increasing in
motive power or active aggressive force with progress to
maturity.
2. One of the lower animals; a brute or beast, as
distinguished from man; as, men and animals.
An"i*mal, a. [Cf. F. animal.]
1. Of or relating to animals; as, animal
functions.
2. Pertaining to the merely sentient part of a
creature, as distinguished from the intellectual, rational, or spiritual
part; as, the animal passions or appetites.
3. Consisting of the flesh of animals; as,
animal food.
Animal magnetism. See Magnetism and
Mesmerism. -- Animal electricity, the
electricity developed in some animals, as the electric eel, torpedo,
etc. -- Animal flower (Zoöl.), a
name given to certain marine animals resembling a flower, as any species of
actinia or sea anemone, and other Anthozoa, hydroids, starfishes, etc.
-- Animal heat (Physiol.), the heat generated
in the body of a living animal, by means of which the animal is kept at
nearly a uniform temperature. -- Animal spirits.
See under Spirit. -- Animal kingdom,
the whole class of beings endowed with animal life. It embraces several
subkingdoms, and under these there are Classes, Orders, Families, Genera,
Species, and sometimes intermediate groupings, all in regular
subordination, but variously arranged by different writers. The
following are the grand divisions, or subkingdoms, and the principal
classes under them, generally recognized at the present time: --
Vertebrata, including Mammalia or Mammals,
Aves or Birds, Reptilia, Amphibia,
Pisces or Fishes, Marsipobranchiata (Craniota);
and Leptocardia (Acrania).
Tunicata, including the Thaliacea, and
Ascidioidea or Ascidians.
Articulata or Annulosa, including
Insecta, Myriapoda, Malacapoda, Arachnida,
Pycnogonida, Merostomata, Crustacea
(Arthropoda); and Annelida, Gehyrea
(Anarthropoda).
Helminthes or Vermes, including
Rotifera, Chætognatha, Nematoidea,
Acanthocephala, Nemertina, Turbellaria,
Trematoda, Cestoidea, Mesozea.
Molluscoidea, including Brachiopoda and
Bryozoa.
Mollusca, including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda,
Pteropoda, Scaphopoda, Lamellibranchiata or
Acephala.
Echinodermata, including Holothurioidea,
Echinoidea, Asterioidea, Ophiuroidea, and
Crinoidea.
Cœlenterata, including Anthozoa or
Polyps, Ctenophora, and Hydrozoa or
Acalephs.
Spongiozoa or Porifera, including the
sponges.
Protozoa, including Infusoria and
Rhizopoda.
For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary.
