Living things come in all shapes and sizes, from microscopic bacteria to giant whales! We can broadly categorize them as 'big' or 'small' based on various characteristics.
Small living things are typically microscopic organisms or relatively small macroscopic organisms. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists, and small invertebrates like insects and worms.
Big living things are typically multicellular organisms that are visible to the naked eye and have complex organ systems. These include plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
| Feature | Small Living Things | Big Living Things |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Microscopic to small macroscopic (e.g., insects) | Large macroscopic (e.g., trees, elephants) |
| Cellularity | Unicellular or simple multicellular | Complex multicellular |
| Complexity | Relatively simple structures | Complex organ systems (e.g., circulatory, nervous) |
| Metabolism | High metabolic rate per unit mass | Lower metabolic rate per unit mass |
| Reproduction | Often reproduce quickly (e.g., binary fission) | Reproduce more slowly (e.g., sexual reproduction) |
| Lifespan | Short lifespan (e.g., bacteria, insects) | Longer lifespan (e.g., trees, mammals) |
| Examples | Bacteria, viruses, insects, worms | Trees, mammals, birds, reptiles |
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