From the sponge to the giraffe, from mosses to redwoods, this program examines the similarities and differences between the denizens of the animal and plant kingdoms. Distinctive characteristics of plants and animals, including physical structure, methods of reproduction, and life cycle, as well as where they find their food and how they interact with other organisms are discussed. Vivid images underscore the diversity of the phyla, classes, and species within these two kingdoms.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Films Media Group on May 12, 2005.\\Part of the Films on Demand collection. Films on Demand is distributed by Films Media Group for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

History and Science of Taxonomy (2:57) -- Classification of Organisms (2:29) -- Classifying Life: The Five Kingdoms (3:10) -- Characteristics of Kingdom Animalia (1:18) -- Invertebrates: Structure and Function (4:33) -- Vertebrates: Structure and Function (4:32) -- Characteristics of Kingdom Plantae (5:49) -- Classifying Life (1:54) -- Test (0:05).