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Arthropods

Arthropods general characteristics and classification with highlighted key words

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36 views

Arthropods

Arthropods general characteristics and classification with highlighted key words

Uploaded by

mannat kahlon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ARTHROPODA

Phylum Arthropoda (Gr., arthros = joint + podos = foot) is the largest phylum and
most varied in the animal kingdom. Arthropods are mainly terrestrial but marine and
freshwater species are also well known. Arthropoda varies tremendously in their
habitats, life histories, and dietary preferences.
Arthropod bodies are divided into segments. However, a number of segments are
sometimes fused to form integrated body parts known as tagmata. This process of
fusion is called tagmosis. The head, thorax, and abdomen are examples of tagmata.
Exoskeleton serves as protection and provides places for muscle attachment.
Arthropods must molt because their exoskeletons don’t grow with them.
Molting is a process that arthropods undergo to shed their old exoskeleton and grow
a new, larger one. This is necessary because their exoskeleton, while providing
protection and support, does not grow with them.

GENERAL CHARECTERISTICS
1. Arthropoda is bilaterally symmetrical (The animal can be divided into two equal
halves along a central axis.), triploblastic (The animal develops from three embryonic
germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.) and metamerically segmented
(The animal's body is divided into repeating segments) animals.
2. Body can be divided into head, thorax and abdomen; head and thorax are often
fused to form Cephalothorax.
3. Body is covered with a thick chitinous cuticle forming an exoskeleton.
4. Body segments usually bear paired and jointed appendages.
5. Coelom largely a blood-filled haemocoel. ( Coelom is a fluid-filled body cavity that
forms between the endoderm (inner layer) and mesoderm (middle layer) during
embryonic development. It plays a crucial role in supporting organs and providing a
space for fluid circulation. In arthropods, however, the coelom is largely reduced and
replaced by a haemocoel. This is a cavity that is filled with blood, known as
haemolymph. The haemocoel serves as both a body cavity and a circulatory system.)
6. Muscles are mostly striated, usually capable of rapid contraction.
7. Digestive tract is complete. The mouth and anus lie at opposite ends of the body.
8. Circulatory system is open with dorsal heart and arteries and blood sinuses.
9. Respiration through by general body surface, by gills in aquatic forms, by tracheae
and by book lungs.
10. Nervous system has dorsal nerve ring.
11. Excretory organs are malpighian tubules (in insects) and green glands (in Crabs
and prawn).
12. Cilia are absent from all parts of the body.
13. Sexes are generally separate.
14. Fertilization is internal, oviparous and ovoviviparous. (Oviparity means that the
fertilized eggs are laid outside the female's body.Ovoviviparity means that the
fertilized eggs develop inside the female's body, but the embryos are nourished by
yolk within the egg, not by the mother's body.)
15. Parental care is well marked in many arthropods.
CLASSIFICATION
Arthropoda is a heterogenous group including a wide variety of animals. Since there
are divergent
views concerning their phylogeny, therefore there is no definitive system for
classifying this phylum.
However we can still classify it under following:

1) Class Onychophora

● Characteristics: Worm-like body with numerous pairs of unjointed legs,


antennae, and a pair of jaws.
● Examples: Velvet worms
● Unique features: Onychophorans are considered "living fossils" as they share
characteristics with both annelid worms and arthropods.

2) Class Diplopoda

● Characteristics: Millipedes, two pairs of legs per segment, cylindrical body.


● Examples: Millipedes
● Unique features: Diplopods are known for their ability to roll up into a
defensive ball.

3) Class Chilopoda

● Characteristics: Centipedes, one pair of legs per segment, flattened body,


venomous claws.
● Examples: Centipedes
● Unique features: Chilopods are carnivores and use their venomous claws to
capture prey.

4) Class Crustacea

● Characteristics: Primarily aquatic, multiple pairs of legs, often with


specialized claws or pincers, two pairs of antennae.
● Examples: Crabs, lobsters, shrimp, barnacles, crayfish
● Unique features: Crustaceans have a hard exoskeleton and breathe through
gills.

5) Class Chelicerata

● Characteristics: Eight legs, two body segments (cephalothorax and


abdomen), no antennae, specialized mouthparts called chelicerae.
● Examples: Spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks
● Unique features: Chelicerates have a unique body plan and often have
venom glands.

6) Class Xiphosurida (Merostomata)


● Characteristics: Horseshoe crabs, large size, horseshoe-shaped carapace,
long tail.
● Examples: Horseshoe crabs
● Unique features: Xiphosurida are considered "living fossils" due to their
ancient lineage and unique morphology.

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