Animals are placed in taxonomic classifications based on differences and similarities of their traits. If you know what critical traits to look for, it is possible to separate any animal into a taxonomic category.
First, list the traits of the following animal phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Nematoda, Echinodermata, and Chordata.
Next, use this Dichotomous Key to help determine the taxonomic category in which each specific organism belongs.