How many phyla are within the animal kingdom, specifically for invertebrates and vertebrates?

The answer indicating that there are 34 invertebrate phyla and 1 vertebrate phylum is accurate in the context of current biological classification. The animal kingdom, or Kingdom Animalia, is immensely diverse, primarily comprising invertebrates. The majority of animal species belong to invertebrate groups such as arthropods, mollusks, annelids, and cnidarians, resulting in a high number of distinct phyla—currently recognized at 34.

On the vertebrate side, the classification is much simpler, encompassing a single phylum, Chordata, which includes all vertebrates such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. This starkly contrasts with invertebrates, highlighting their overwhelming diversity in terms of the number of phyla. Invertebrates represent the vast majority of the animal kingdom, while vertebrates are a more specialized and limited group. Thus, this alignment of 34 invertebrate phyla with 1 vertebrate phylum accurately reflects the classification, giving insight into the overall structure and diversity within the animal kingdom.