Arthropods

Name: Alfred Scriven Class: 9s Date: 4th June

Context
PAGE; 3. Introduction 4. Classes of arthropods 5. Crustaceans 7. Insects 9. Arachnids 11. Myriapods

Introduction
Arthropods are a major category of animals, encompassing insects, arachnids, crustaceans, centipedes, and a few others. In Greek, arthropod means "jointed foot," a reference to one of the defining characteristics of the phylum a segmented body with appendages. Arthropods are the most successful and diverse of all animal phyla, in terms of their numbers and ubiquity. They make up about 80% of all animal species, and over a million have been given scientific names. All arthropods have a dorsal (on top) heart and a ventral (on bottom) nervous system. They are covered by an exoskeleton made of chitin, a rigid polysaccharide which serves as a sort of armor and protects arthropods from drying out. When an arthropod grows, it must shed its layers. In today's world, arthropods tend to be relatively small, generally smaller than a half meter in size, although a few, like the Japanese spider crab, have a leg span up to 3.5 m (12 ft). The smallest arthropods are plankton about 300 microns large

Classes of Arthropods
1.Crustaceans 2.Insects 3.Arachnids 4.Myriapods

Crustaceans
Head and Body The most distinctive crustaceans characteristics are observed with respect to their body structures. They all have very well built heads, from which the five pairs of appendages are extended. The animal's antennae form the first two pairs of these appendages, through which the food, weather temperatures and dangers are detected. After the antennae, the next pair defines the mandibles or jaws, which are used for holding the food and tearing it. The next two pairs are the maxillae used for feeding. The other part of the body is segmented which comprises the thorax and the abdomen. Many crustaceans have additional abdomen features, i.e. legs used for swimming or "swimmerets". They also consist of the setae, thin whisker projections that extend from the head. The Exoskeleton Another very common yet unique one of the crustaceans characteristics is the exoskeleton found on their bodies. The exoskeleton covers the entire body of the animal including the head, appendages, thorax and the abdomen. It is a hard and calcified covering which is made up of limestone of commonly known as chitin. The reason nature has provided these crustaceans with the exoskeleton is because their internal systems are very delicate and are open immediately below the skeleton. They have an open circulatory system (no heart) and a two part nervous system (one ventral nerve and ganglia system). Thus, these delicate inner parts are protected by the exoskeleton.

Crustaceans
Crab Most shrimps

Insects

Characteristics of Insects exoskeleton 3 body regions: head, thorax, abdomen 3 pairs of segmented legs 1 pair of antennae most have 2 pairs of wings (a few insects, such as ants, dont usually have wings; some insects, such as flies, only have 1 pair of wings)

Insects
Ladybug Ant

Arachnids
Arachnid Family Members Spiders make up the biggest portion of the arachnid family. The main components of the arachnid family are spiders and scorpions. Mites and ticks round out the arachnid family. Ticks are actually a type of mite, according to the University of Kentucky. One arachnid which many mistake for a type of spider is actually its own species. The harvestman is commonly called the "daddy longlegs." Although it resembles a spider, it is not, although it is in the same arachnid family. Eight-legged Creepy Crawlers The main characteristic of an arachnid is eight legs. Insects have only six legs whereas spiders and all arachnids have eight. While there are some who are afraid of all insects, there are many more who fear little animals on eight legs. The name of this fear is called arachnophobia

Arachnids
Spider Scorpion

Myriapods
The signature characteristic of myriapods are their numerous legs, but many of them have other common characteristics, such as repugnatorial glands, which produce an irritant liquid used to discourage predators. This liquid often contains benzoquinones, which can blister human skin. Of the myriapods, centipedes are mostly carnivorous (which is reflected in their fearsome appearance), while millipedes mostly consume detritus, although a few species eat other small arthropods. Symphylans and pauropods are small soil arthropods that superficially resemble centipedes and move rapidly between soil grains. All myriapods are most numerous in moist forests, where they fill an important role in breaking down plant material, creating nutrientrich detritus for bacteria to break down even further. If you lift up a log in a moist forest, you'll likely see dozens of myriapods scurrying out

Myriapods
Centipedes Symphylans