Introduction to Phylum Arthropoda Ty Biology

Phylum Arthropoda
The arthropods are by far the most successful phylum in the Animal kingdom. About 80% of all known animal species belong to the Arthropoda. Approximately 800,000 species have been described, and recent estimates put the total number in the phylum at about 6 million. They have adapted successfully to life in water, on land and in the air. They can survive great extremes of temperature, toxicity, acidity and salinity.

Characteristics of Arthropoda
Segemented Bodies - multiple body segments. Exoskeleton - body covered with a hard external skeleton. Bilateral Symmetry - body can be divided into two identical halves. Jointed Appendages - each segment may have one pair of appendages, such as legs, wings and mouthparts.

Phylum Arthropoda
Class Aracnidna

Class Myripoda
(Diplodopa / Chilopoda)

Class Insecta Class Crustacea

Class Diplopoda
Millipedes milli means thousand, pede means legs, so ('thousand legged creature'?) Most feed on decaying matter Have two pair of legs per segment Generally harmless detritus feeders

Class Chilopoda
Centi means hundred, pede means legs, so "hundred legged creature"? 1 pair of legs per segment Usually shiny, reddish brown, less than 3 inches long Move rapidly, often found under logs; some in homes Can bite have poison claws- modified 1st pair of legs supposedly feels like a bee sting

Class Crustacea
A hard exoskeleton made of calcium no internal skeleton. The head has two compound eyes, two pairs of antennae, and three pairs of mouthparts. Over 38,000 species Nearly all are aquatic - "Insects of the Sea" Microscopic to Largest Living Arthropods

Class Insecta
The insects are the most numerous and diverse of all the groups of arthropods. There are more species of insects than species in all the other classes of animals combined! Insects differ from other arthropods in having three pairs of legs. In size, insects range from less than 1 mm to 20 cm in length, the majority being less than 2.5 cm long.

Insect Characteristics
Three body segments- head, thorax (chest), abdomen (stomach area). 3 pair of legs, 1pair to each of the 3 thoracic segments. Compound eyes Wings- usually two pairs of wings, although some have one pair of wings, or none.

Insect mouthparts
Insects have a variety of mouth parts Chewing (beetles, cockroaches). Lapping and sponging (flies). Piercing-sucking (mosquitoes, bugs).

Class Arachnida
Spiders, Ticks and Mites
Two body regions: Cephalothorax and Abdomen No antennae All have eight legs. Carnivorous with feeding appendages calls chelicerae Use enzyme-rich salivary juices to digest prey. Most are terrestrial 57,000 known species

Class Activity
Anatomy of a Spider

Harmful effects of arthropods

Direct harm Annoyance - flies interfere with your work and rest. Venom - stings of scorpions and spiders may even cause death. Parasites - Fly larvae may cause skin disorders like scabies or mange. Transmission of diseases Mechanical transmission contaminate food by leaving droppings and bacteria Biological transmission. Pathogens spend a part of their life cycle in the arthropods.