It is very common for people to be surprised and even angry when we say that the man is aanimal. However, we are part of this kingdom, as are jellyfish, cockroaches, lice, dogs, among others, and we must accept this fact.
→ After all, what is an animal?
Animals are organisms that belong to the Kingdom Animalia, also called the Kingdom Metazoa. This kingdom includes organisms with eukaryotic, heterotrophic and multicellular cells, that is, animals are beings that have a cell with a membrane-delimited nucleus, do not produce their own food and are made up of several cells.
Given the definition of what an organism belonging to the Animalia Kingdom is, it becomes clear why we are animals and why we are united with so many other distinct beings. Being in the same realm, however, does not mean that all animals are the same. That's why, below the realm, we have taxonomic categoriesnarrower (groups of organisms grouped by their similarities) such as phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
→ What characteristics can differentiate us from other animals?
Several differences separate us from other animals, as we are from different species, with different morphology, physiology and behavior. Each species has a unique characteristic that defines it and, therefore, to speak of differences, it is necessary to have another organism to make a comparison.
By comparing humans with invertebrate organisms, for example, it is evident that the lack of a complex skeleton differentiates us from these organisms. When compared to more complex organisms, the differences diminish, however, they still exist, both in biological and behavioral issues.
It is very common for people to differentiate humans from other animals by their ability to accumulate knowledge and transmit it socially. However, other organisms are capable of performing such action. Some studies, for example, confirm that some orcas communicate and change their communication over time, which demonstrates that they can accumulate knowledge and also transmit it.
There are also lines that claim that human beings are different because they have the capacity to create symbols, such as burial rituals, in addition to the great human capacity for innovation. The ability to innovate, however, is a characteristic observed in other organisms, such as monkeys, which perform actions that until then were not performed by the group.
It is important to highlight that all species have important characteristics and that they are all different and have a place on the planet. The human species is not better or worse than another, it is just different, as all species are. Therefore, we have to understand that human beings are not superior to any other species and we must live in harmony with all existing animals.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
