C H E L I C E R AT E S

A B H I S H E K M A T H E W, M A T T H E W T S O I , X U H U I Z H O U , R YA N W A K E H A M

R YA N W A K E H A M

C L A S S I F I C AT I O N

 Domain: Eukarya
Multicellular with cells that contain a nucleus and

membrane bound cell bodies

Dueterostomes or Protostomes?
Chelicerates fall under the protostomes as during the

embryonic phase, their blastophore form mouths first.

 Supergroup: Ecdysozoa
Chelicerates are classified under Ecdysozoa as they molt

their cuticle layers (ecdysis) as they grow

These cuticle layers contain chitin as well as other proteins

Phylum: Arthropods
Classified as Arthropods because of their segmented

bodies and heads and jointed legs

 Chelicerata:
The Chelicerates, similarly to most other arthropods,

have segmented bodies, however, are separated

differently. They have an anterior cephalothorax and a
posterior abdomen. Chelicerates lack antennae and
most have simple eyes (eyes with a single lens)

Chelicerae are claw like feeding appendages located

near the mouth. Chelicerae can serve as pincers or

fangs and are what give Chelicerates their name

 Some types of Chelicerate: Marine chelicerates are horseshoe

crabs and sea spiders

Earliest chelicerates were eurypterids (water scorpions). Most

marine chelicerates, including all of the eurypterids, are now

extinct

Arachnids (Spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites)

Parasitic arthropods: Ticks and mites; nearly all ticks and parasitic

mites are parasites that feed off of the blood of their host (Ticks
target mammals and reptiles; Parasitic mites target vertebrates,
invertebrates, and plants).

S P I D E R R A P S O N G - H A I L E Y F T. B R O O K E F R O M S C I E N C E C L A S S

T H I S W E E K S W AT C H

MATTHEW TSOI

A N AT O M Y

A R T H R O P O D A : C H E L I C E R AT E S
As Arthropods, Chelicerates have:
Segmented bodies
Segmented heads
Jointed limbs
Cuticles containing Chitin
A small coloem
Open Circulator system

S P E C I F I C T O C H E L I C E R AT E S

Appendages in front of their mouths called Chelicerae

The Chelicerates body plan contains two of a segment

called tagmata: the cephalothorax, and the abdomen

Pedipalps which are an additional pair of appendages

in front of the legs specific to Chelicerates

 As arthropods, Chelicerates contain several body components

as other arthropods

Like most arthropods, terrestrial Chelicerates breathe through

malphigian tubules and have a cloaca to excrete waste and their

marine counterpart have gills

Their exoskeletons are made of chitin and are sectioned off into

segmented portions

However, unlike the rest of the arthropods, Chelicerates have

special mouthparts called Chelicerae where they get their name

S E G M E N TAT I O N
Chelicerates are divided into 2 parts: The cephalothorax,

and the abdomen

The cephalothorax in chelicerates is difference to that of

other arthropods

A cephalothorax is the combination of the head and thorax

seen in other arthropods

The cephalothorax contains a few major components such

as the brain while the abdomen contains most of the other

major organs such as the stomach and heart

CHELICERAE

The word Chelicerae is derived from a Greek term

meaning,Claw Horns

There are 3 kinds of Chelicerae, jackknife, scissor, and

the 3-segmented chelate

Jackknife Chelicerae are most commonly found in

spiders

 Scissor Chelicerae are found on pseudoscorpions and

some spiders

3-segmented Chelates occur on most other

Chelicerates

In spiders, the Chelicerae contain the fangs and aid

with the eating process

P E D I PA L P S
The Pedipalps are a pair of appendages unique to the

Chelicerates

They generally exist in front of the mouth and a

various different uses

In spiders, the pedipalps help with sensory and

moving food towards the Chelicerae and mouth

In scorpions, the pedipalps are their large front claws

which are also known as Chelae

XU HUI ZHOU

ECOLOGY

ACARI
(MITES & TICKS)
Found among a large

group of vertebrate hosts

Moist forests and areas of

vegetation are most

productive regions for ticks

Mites are found in a broad

area of habitats including

saline and fresh water, soils,
plants and animals (humans
too)

ARANEAE
(SPIDERS)
Spiders construct silk

characterized by its
species and can use it to
build perfect webs in their
first try, to cover their
eggs, catch insects and
even as a gift wrap for
food to give to the ladies
during courtship.

SCORPIONES
(SCORPIONS)
Scorpions are primarily

nocturnal

Mainly found in tropics and

subtropics but some in

temperate; especially deserts

Usually stay in underground

burrows in day as it retain a

higher humidity, lowers
temperature and protects

Uses neurotoxin venom that

causes paralysis to kill prey

M E R O S T O M AT I D S
(HORSESHOE
CRABS)
Horseshoe crabs are

omnivorous scavengers
and feed on small bivalves,
mollusks, worms, dead fish
and algae.
The 4 remaining species

are found in the coastal

waters of Asia from India
to Japan & the Atlantic
coastline of North America

PYCOGONIDS
(SEA SPIDERS)

Found in all oceans,

especially polar areas

Most are carnivorous, and

feed on bryozoans,
hydroids and polychaetes

SIGNIFICANCE
ABHISHEK MATHEW

They are known to be scary..

E C O L O G I C A L A N D H U M A N I M PA C T S

Over half the chelicerates contribute to human harm,

including death

Used until the 1970s as a cheap fertilizer

Their blood or components are used to produce

pharmaceuticals and perform research

Many are used as bait for eels, conch and whelk

 They are important food sources (loggerhead and

turtles)

Their eggs are also a food source for migrating birds

Venom from the death stalker scorpion and the black

widow spider are being used to create new treatments

for cancer and Alzheimer's Disease.

Spiders produce silk that is tougher than Kevlar (which

has instigated research into super-strong materials)

 Spiders have over 50,000 described species. Mites and

ticks have around around 48,200 species and 1200

species of scorpions

Ticks and mites transmit a greater variety of human

and animal pathogens than any other arthropod agent

(e.g Lyme disease tick)

Mites and ticks are all over place, in your homes,

outside, everywhere

D O W E R E A L LY H A V E B U G S L I V I N G I N
OUR EYEBROWS?
YES!! Our skin is covered with crawling mites.
Humans host two species of mites: face mites or

follicle mites

Humans are born mite free but over time, they are

infested

They are also spread by contact

 When you walk through a spiderweb, you instantly

master Kung Fu

REFERENCES
Arachnida - Spiders, Ticks, Mites, Chiggers, Scorpions, Whipscorpions, Pseudoscorpions, Daddy longlegs, Harvestmen, Arachnidae -- Discover

Life. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Arachnida

Arthropods - Chelicerates. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.austincc.edu/sziser/Biol%201413/LectureNotes/lnexamIII/Arthropods-

Chelicerates.pdf

The deadly venom being used as medicine - Telegraph. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9248208/The-

deadly-venom-being-used-as-medicine.html

Carrera P.C, Mattoni C. I, Peretti A. V, (25 December 2008). Chelicerae as male grasping organs in scorpions: sexual dimorphism and associated

behavior. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:2055/science/article/pii/S0944200609000397

Dolphin, W. D., & Vleck, D. (2015). Biological investigations: Form, function, diversity, and process (10th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
Dunlop J. A. (13 January 2010). Arthropod Structure & Development. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.student.twu.ca:2055/science/article/pii/

S1467803910000046

I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT - OFFICIAL VIDEO. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=WjWzDOZmmxU

The Earthlife Web - Sea Spiders: Class Pycnogonida. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.earthlife.net/chelicerata/pycnogonida.html#3
The Earthlife Web - The Scorpion Page. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.earthlife.net/chelicerata/scorpionidae.html#3
Mite (arachnid) -- Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/386007/mite
Joke Spider | Kappit. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from http://www.kappit.com/tag/joke-spider/1/
Reece, J. B., & Campbell, N. A. (2011). Campbell biology: Jane B. Reece ... [et al.]. Boston: Benjamin Cummings.
Spider Rap Song, Advanced Science Project. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiBlgNch-70
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