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Hayvan Yaşam Alanları

Polonezköy Country Club

Animals

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Animals Here Are Not Just Guests, But Hosts Too

   With an approach that goes beyond mere observation, we offer a unique experience where animals share their habitats with humans.

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   At Polonezköy Country Club, many species roam freely in open areas: llamas, horses, deer, sheep, and most birds coexist with our guests.

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   However, some species—such as wolves, monkeys, zebras, and reptiles—live in specially designed, secure habitats created for their safety and well-being.

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   Every species here is an integral part of the club’s natural cycle, and we care for their welfare as deeply as our own existence.

Discover the Classes in Our Area

Biological Hierarchy of Animals

   
     Animals are classified biologically at the kingdom level following the domain. This kingdom is further divided into phyla, subphyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and finally species. For example, the classification journey of a rabbit is as follows:

   Domain: Eukaryota (Eukaryota) → Kingdom: Animalia (Animalia) → Phylum: Chordata (Chordata) → Subphylum: Vertebrates (Vertebrata) →
Class: Mammals (Mammalia) → Order: Lagomorphs (Lagomorpha) → Family: Rabbit Family (Leporidae) → Genus: Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus) →

Species: Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) → Breed: Holland Lop Rabbit (Holland Lop)

Summary of Animals

  • Animals are multicellular organisms.

  • They obtain their nutrients externally and possess a digestive system.

  • Because they have nervous and muscle tissues, they can move actively (at least during one stage of their life cycle).

  • They respond to environmental stimuli, enabling them to hunt, escape, or communicate.

  • Sexual reproduction is common, and embryonic development occurs in many animals.

Origin of Animals


Starting Point: Single-Celled Eukaryotes in the Ocean

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  • Around 800 million years ago, following single-celled organisms in the oceans, the first multicellular animals emerged.

  • This group is called Metazoa (real animals).

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Genetic Emergence Timeline

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  1. Sponges (Porifera) : The most primitive multicellular animals. No true tissues.

  2. Jellyfish (Cnidaria) : Beginning of the nervous system. Presence of muscle tissue.

  3. Bilateral Animals (Bilateria) : Animals with bilateral symmetry — marks the start of complex body plans.

  4. Mouth-Bearing Animals (Deuterostomlar) : Animals in which the mouth forms during embryonic development.

  5. Chordates (Chordata) : Group that possesses a notochord — vertebrates emerge from here.

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Genetic History of VERTEBRATES (Vertebrata)

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   Vertebrates are the group of animals with the most complex systems, following this evolutionary path:

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1. 🐟 Fish (Pisces)

  • The oldest group of vertebrates.

  • Gills for breathing, movement with fins, lay eggs.

  • Evolution from jawless to jawed fish.

  • Armored fish → Cartilaginous (sharks) → Bony fish (like sea bass).

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2. 🐸 Amphibians (Amphibia)

  • Live both in water and on land.

  • First group to transition from water to land.

  • Breathe through skin and gills during larval stage.

  • Frogs, salamanders.

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3. 🐍 Reptiles (Reptilia)

  • Better adapted to life on land.

  • Hard-shelled eggs reduce dependency on water.

  • Cold-blooded animals.

  • Examples: turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodiles.

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4. 🦅 Birds (Aves)

  • Genetically descended from reptiles (especially dinosaurs).

  • Covered in feathers, capable of flight.

  • Warm-blooded with high metabolism.

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5. 🐻 Mammals (Mammalia)

  • Fur instead of feathers, feed young with milk glands

  • Mostly give live birth, have advanced brains and internal regulation systems

  • The line leading to humans: Domain: Eukaryota (Eukaryota) → Kingdom: Animals (Animalia) → Phylum: Chordata (Chordata) → Subphylum: Vertebrata (Vertebrata) →  Class: Mammals (Mammalia) → Order: Primates (Primates) → Family: Hominidae (Hominidae) → Genus: Humans (Homo) → Species: Homo sapiens (Homo sapiens) → Subspecies: Wise Human (Homo sapiens sapiens)

Scientific / Interesting Notes

  • The animal kingdom is one of the most diverse groups of living organisms, with over 1.5 million known species.

  • All animals are multicellular and possess specialized muscle and nervous systems.

  • They move at some stage of their life—some throughout their entire life, others only as juveniles.

  • Animals obtain their food from external sources and digest it internally—this is a key difference from fungi.

  • Most animals reproduce sexually, involving both female and male individuals in the reproductive process.

  • Some species have developed complex behavior systems and communication methods—birds, mammals, and certain insects are prime examples.

  • The animal kingdom first appeared in the oceans approximately 700 million years ago.

3 Rules for Respectful Communication with Nature

  • Do not feed the animals.

  • Keep your distance and observe.

  • Be quiet and listen to their rhythm.

Discover Other Kingdoms in Our Area:

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