Animal

Animals are living things made of many tiny cells. They eat food, breathe air, and can move around. Most animals can have babies with another animal. Animals come from a single family long, long ago. Scientists have found over one and a half million kinds of animals. But they think there might be almost eight million kinds on Earth.

Animals come in many different sizes. The smallest animals are tinier than a speck of dust. The biggest animals are as long as three school buses parked end to end. All animals eat other living things or plants. They live together and depend on each other for food and survival.

There are five big groups of animals. Most animals belong to one special group. These animals have two sides that look the same. Some animals have hard shells or spiky skin. Others have backbones inside their bodies like you do.

A very, very long time ago, animals first lived on Earth. This was hundreds of millions of years before people existed. Then many new kinds of animals appeared very quickly. All animals today share some of the same body instructions inside their cells.

People use animals in many ways. We eat meat, eggs, and cheese from animals. We use their fur and skin to make clothes. Dogs are our best friends and help us in many ways. Animals are also important in our stories, art, and sports.