Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Superkingdom Prokarya -- Kingdom Bacteria -- Subkingdom Archaea -- Subkingdom Eubacteria -- Superkingdom Eukarya -- Kingdom Protoctista -- Kingdom Animalia -- Kingdom Fungi -- Kingdom Plantae. An all-inclusive catalogue of the world's living diversity, Five Kingdoms defines and describes the major divisions, or phyla, of nature's five great kingdoms - bacteria, protoctists, animals, fungi, and plants - using a modern classification scheme that is consistent with both the fossil record and molecular data. Generously illustrated and remarkably easy to follow, it not only allows readers to sample the full range of life forms inhabiting our planet but to familiarize themselves with the taxonomic theories by which all organisms' origins and distinctive characteristics are traced and classified.