Phylum Arthropoda

(The Arthropods)

By far and away, the most successful animal group ever to live
Consists of over 1 million named species, 2 of every 3 animals
are arthropods. ~ 1018 individuals.
Inhabit all ecosystems
General characteristics
All have a hard exoskeleton
Composed of protein and chitin
Allows for great variation in function - biological "swiss army
knives"
Must molt as they grow
Limits their size
Have well developed body segments and appendages
Have well developed sensory organs including true eyes and
antennae
Have open circulatory systems & special gas exchange organs
Could this be possible?
 Subphylum Chilicerata
(arachnids, horseshoe crabs & sea spiders)

Divided into 3 classes; Arachnida, Merostomata &

Pycnogonida
Body divided into 2 regions
Abdomen
Cephalothorax (fused head & thorax)
Lack jaws
Have 6 appendages & no antennae
First appendages form chilicerae (frequently fangs)
 Class Arachnida
(Spiders, Scorpions, Ticks & Mites)

Very diverse class

Most species parasitic
or predatory
Many possess book
lungs for gas exchange
Spiders are able to
produce a strong
polymer - silk
Chilicera in form of
fangs
Spiders
 More Spiders

Tarantula

Black Widow
 For the true
arachnophobe

The brown recluse and its bite wounds

The Camel Spider
Ticks & Mites
Ticks & Lyme
Disease
Common Mites

Dust Mite Common Mite

Scorpions
Class Picogonida
(Sea Spiders)
 Class Merostomata
Ancient group of
species
Changed little over
350 million years
Aquatic, mostly
found on Atlantic &
gulf coasts of
United States
 Subphylum Uniramai
(3 Classes)
Class Insecta (insects)
Class Chilopoda (Centipedes)
Class Diplopoda (Millipedes)
 Class Insecta
(the insects)

Far & away the most diverse of animal

groups
More types of insects alone than all other
animal groups combined
Inhabit all terrestrial & freshwater
ecosystems.
Success largely attributed to coevolution
with flowering plants.
 Insect Body Plan
Insects have 6 legs
3 body parts
Head
Thorax
Abdomen
Most insects have wings, however in many species these are vestigal
Have advanced excretory system composed of malphygian tubules
Exchange gasses through a complex tracheal system
 Vision
Have complex compound eye which is usually
extremely sensitive to motion and allows 360 0
vision
Most insects see well into the UV spectrum
 Feeding / Mouthparts
Insects usually have
specialized
jaws/mouthparts
suited to their
ecological niche
 Metamorphosis
Most insects undergo a process of metamorphosis - 2
types
Incomplete metamorphosis
Larva similar to adult, with differing body proportions
Undergoes a series of molts resulting in adult phenotype
 Complete Metamorphosis
Larva is very unlike adult phenotype
Envelopes self in a coccoon or chrysalis where
body breaks-down and reforms into adult form.
 Classes Chiopoda & Diplopoda
Millipedes (diplopoda) are segmented worm-like animals
Have 2 pairs of legs per segment
Primarily herbivores & decomposers
Centipedes (Chilopoda)
Usually terrestrial carnivores
Have 1 pair of antennae
Are often poisonous, using modified front claws to immobilize prey
Centipedes vs. Millipedes

Centipede Millipede
 Subphylum Crustacea
Includes crabs,
lobsters, crayfish,
shrimp, krill &
barnacles
Over 40,000
species
Appendages are
often highly
specialized
Gas exchange is
usually through
gills
Many species taste
delicious in butter
 Some Crustaceans

Crayfish

Marine Maine Lobster

Crabs
Barnacles