Arthropoda

Arthropoda Overview

Arthropoda phylum composed of insects, spiders, crustacea and many other categories is the biggest and most diverse within the kingdom of Animalia. These are animals with segmented body appendages and outer covering also known as an outer shell and are very important in ecosystems all over the world. This is not to suggest they are simply numerate; pollination, decomposition and nutrient cycling are provided by them in distinguishing measures. Many arthropods’ lives range from ocean depths to terrestrial, and the flexibility displayed supports their successful evolution. Knowledge of species and their distribution is crucial for the comprehension of Earth’s intricacy and stability when it comes to life, thereby attaching great importance to Phylum Arthropoda as a basis for biological study and nature conservation on a global level.

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This Story also Contains

1. Arthropoda Overview
2. General Characteristics Of Arthropoda
3. Classification Of Arthropoda
4. Detailed Examination Of Major Classes
5. Recommended Video On Arthropoda

General Characteristics Of Arthropoda

Arthropods exhibit several distinctive features that contribute to their evolutionary success and ecological diversity:

Exoskeleton Composition And Molting (Ecdysis)

Both annelids and arthropods have segmented bodies and yet they differ in that the arthropods have an armour-like covering called the exoskeleton, which is composed of a material known as chitin. With their development, they also go through a process of moulting (ecdysis) where they peel their skin and create a new, bigger one.

Segmented Body Plan

They possess limbs and joints and their body is generally segmented, falling under the head, the thorax and the abdomen. This makes possible the specialization of body regions and functions.

Jointed Appendages

Currently, members of the phylum Arthropoda possess bilateral symmetry and paired jointed appendages (legs, antennae) through which movement and manipulation of the environment are made possible hence easy manipulation of the surrounding environment hence the ability to inhabit a variety of places.

Bilateral Symmetry

Arthropods are bi-laterally symmetrical that is their bodies are symmetrical in such a way that they can reflect each other. This is related to the smooth and well-coordinated locomotion of certain parts of the body’s structure.

Open Circulatory System

They have an open circulatory system; in which blood or rather the hemolymph flows without any restrictions within body compartments and directly washes the organs. This system nourishes them metabolically and helps in the distribution of nutrition and oxygen.

Nervous System And Sensory Organs

Its main organ the nervous system consists of a brain and a ventral nerve cord that runs along the dorsum of the body. They wield well-developed appendages called sensory appendages that help them perceive stimuli such as light through the compound eye, touch through antennae, chemical signals through chemoreceptors, and many other forms that improve the bugs’ reaction and communication with the surroundings.

Classification Of Arthropoda

Subphylum and class overview

Subphylum Trilobitomorpha

• Extinct

Subphylum Chelicerata

• Class Arachnida (spiders, scorpions)

• Class Merostomata (horseshoe crabs)

• Class Pycnogonida (sea spiders)

Subphylum Myriapoda

• Class Chilopoda (centipedes)

• Class Diplopoda (millipedes)

Subphylum Crustacea

• Class Malacostraca (crabs, lobsters)

• Class Branchiopoda (brine shrimp)

• Class Maxillopoda (barnacles)

Subphylum Hexapoda

• Class Insecta (insects)

• Class Entognatha (springtails)

Detailed Examination Of Major Classes

The detailed explanation is given below-

Insecta

Body structure: Insects have a three-part body: It includes, a head with sensory organs such as eyes and antennae, a thorax with three sets of legs most of the time wings, and the abdomen which is involved in digestion and reproduction.

Life cycle (metamorphosis): Insects pass through metamorphosis- either holometabolous (egg, larva, pupa, adult) while others are hemimetabolous (egg, nymph, adult) so they can occupy different ecological niches in their life cycle.

Ecological importance: Without insects, the ecosystems would suffer through pollination inability, decomposition and food resources. It is known that they affect ecosystems and agriculture as pollinators and pests.

Example: Honeybee (Apis mellifera): Honeybees are important as they contribute to crop pollination and maintenance of other species: plants.

Arachnida

Body structure: Arachnids have a body divided into two main parts: the Cephalothorax which is the fused head and the thorax and the abdomen. while the cephalothorax is responsible for the housing of the eyes, mouthparts, and legs, the abdomen is also assigned with functions of the digestive and reproductive organs.

Specialised appendages: Some antennates such as spiders have special limbs; chelicerae are used in feeding whereas most have fangs and pedipalps that are sensory and feeding organs as well as being reproductive.

Venom and silk production: Most arachnids, for example, spiders, secrete toxins to paralyze their food and threads for building webs to catch the prey or to build nests for the protection of eggs among others.

Example: Spider (Araneae): The spiders are popular since they use silk to twist webs that they use in catching their meal. These are pest management instruments that help to regulate the pest populations and are resident in different ecosystems globally.

Crustacea

Body structure: Crustacea has a head and thorax fused, which is called the cephalothorax and the remainder of the body is the abdomen. These often consist of more than one pair of legs, mouthparts and/or antennae which help in feeding and/or perceiving the environment.

Aquatic adaptations: In a general perspective, crustaceans are mostly water-dwelling animals and hence they mostly exhibit some traits found in their respiratory system like gills for respiratory purpose and their locomotive and feeding appendages like limbs.

Economic importance: Crustaceans are of vast economic importance, as they serve as food, especially crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, and as a source of fishery and aquaculture in the global market.

Example: Crab (Brachyura): Crabs are marine and freshwater animals that have broad flat heads and thorax that together are known as the cephalothorax, strong claw-like pincers which are used for defences as well as for manpower. It is relevant to both the structure of ecosystems and food chains and it is considered as a source of food for other living beings including human beings.

Myriapoda

Distinctive features of centipedes and millipedes: Class Chilopoda, which includes the centipedes, are characterized by elongated bodies and a pair of legs in every one of the segments of the body; these creatures are carnivorous, and they kill their prey using special claws which are venomous. The class Diplopoda is known as millipedes; they possess two pairs of legs on each body segment and are tearing vegetarians, scrap feeders, and decomposers of plant litter.

Habitat and behaviour: Myriapods are usually associated with habitats with high humidity, including soil, litter layer, and logs. While centipedes are very swift when hunting for their prey, millipedes are very slow-moving and to a large extent depend on their shells and chemical secretion to protect them from their predators.

Example: Centipede (Chilopoda): The centipede is associated with speed and predatory nature because of the way it catches its prey. They employ five-millimetre-long venomous forcipules that they use for holding and eventually paralyzing their prey; insects and other small animals. It participates in the regulation of some pests in their natural environment.

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