Phylums

• Phylum Arthropoda


  Arthro (joint) poda (feet)
• Arthropods


  Any member of the phylum Arthropoda, the largest phylum in the animal kingdom, which includes such familiar forms as lobsters, crabs, spiders, mites, insects, centipedes, and millipedes

  
• Classification of arthropods


  • Kingdom - Animalia
  • Phylum - Arthropoda
  • Class - Insecta
  • Order - (suffix: tera, pteron "wing")
  • Family - (suffix: idae) ex. Mantidae
  • Genus
  • Species

  
• 84 percent of all know species of the animal kingdom is under this phylum
• Exoskeleton


  • The distinguishing feature of arthropods is the presence of a jointed skeletal covering composed of chitin (a complex sugar) bound to protein
  • Most arthropods are small animals. Only aquatic forms are able to attain substantial sizes, because their bodies are supported in part by the surrounding water
• Jointed Appendages


  • Arthropods have jointed appendages, which enable them to move efficiently. These appendages are adapted for various functions such as walking, swimming, feeding, sensing, and reproduction
• Bilateral Symmetry


  • Most arthropods exhibit bilateral symmetry, meaning their bodies can be divided into two roughly mirror-image halves along a central axis
• Open Circulatory System


  • Arthropods typically have an open circulatory system where blood, or hemolymph, is pumped by a heart into the body cavity (hemocoel), bathing the internal organs directly

  
• Metamorphosis


  • Many arthropods undergo metamorphosis, a process involving distinct stages of development such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This allows for specialization of body form and function at different life stages
• Habitat Diversity


  • Arthropods inhabit diverse habitats ranging from terrestrial environments like forests, grasslands, and deserts, to freshwater and marine ecosystems. They occupy virtually every ecological niche on Earth
• The 75,000 species that make up the subphylum Chelicerata are mostly classified as Arachnida, which includes a wide range of animals such as spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks, all of which are distinguished by their unique anatomies and limbs

  
• Ticks


  Blood-feeding arachnids characterized by their parasitic lifestyle, specialized mouthparts for feeding, and ability to transmit diseases to animals and humans
• Sun Spider


  Also known as solifugae, are non-venomous arachnids found in desert regions, recognized for their large jaws, impressive speed, and nocturnal hunting habits
• Crustacea


  Invertebrates with a hard exoskeleton (carapace), a segmented body that is bilaterally symmetrical, more than four pairs of jointed appendages ("legs") and an open circulatory system (the "blood" does not flow in a closed loop)
• Crab


  An arthropod belonging to the class Decapoda, which also includes other crustaceans like lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish. Decapods are characterized by having ten legs, with the first pair often modified into claws called chelae
• Lobsters


  They have long bodies with muscular tails and live in crevices or burrows on the sea floor. Three of their five pairs of legs have claws, including the first pair, which are usually much larger than the others
• Gammarus


  Contains more than 200 described species, making it one of the most species-rich genera of crustaceans
• Hexapoda


  The class Hexapoda, which includes insects, is the largest in the phylum Arthropoda. It has over a million documented species that are identified by having six legs and a variety of body shapes

  
• Beetle


  Beetles, with their protective forewings called elytra, are diverse insects known for their adaptability and varied feeding habits
• Flea


  Fleas are small, wingless parasites known for their ability to jump long distances and feed on the blood of mammals and birds
• Butterfly


  Butterflies are colorful insects known for their delicate and scaly wings and unique life cycle, undergoing metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult

  
• Myriapoda


  Nearly 13,000 species of arthropod are classified in the Myriapoda, the "many-legged ones." They range in size from nearly microscopic to 30 cm in length. All myriapods are terrestrial forms. They possess repugnatorial glands, specialized glands that secrete foul-tasing compounds as their defense
• Millipede


  Originating from the Latin mille, "thousand", and pes, "foot". Its primary defense mechanism is to curl into a tight coil, thereby protecting its legs and other vital delicate areas on the body behind a hard exoskeleton
• Centepede


  Unlike millipedes, which are herbivorous and have two pairs of legs per body segment, centipedes are carnivorous and have one pair of legs per body segment
• MYRIAPODA


  • Nearly 13,000 species of arthropod are classified in the Myriapoda, the "many-legged ones"
  • They range in size from nearly microscopic to 30 cm in length
  • All myriapods are terrestrial forms
  • They possess repugnatorial glands, specialized glands that secrete foul-tasing compounds as their defense
• Millipede


  • Originating from the Latin mille, "thousand", and pes, "foot"
  • Its primary defense mechanism is to curl into a tight coil, thereby protecting its legs and other vital delicate areas on the body behind a hard exoskeleton
• Centipede


  Unlike millipedes, which are herbivorous and have two pairs of legs per body segment, centipedes are carnivorous and have one pair of legs per body segment, except for their first pair of legs
• TRILOBITOMORPHA


  • Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita
  • They existed in oceans for almost 270 million years, with over 22,000 species
  • Due to their wide diversity and an easily fossilized mineralized exoskeleton, they left an extensive fossil record to which facilitated important contributions to paleontology, evolutionary biology, and plate tectonics
• Eldredgeops rana


  • Can be recognized by its large eyes that can be up to 6 inches long (similar to a frog's eyes—the specific name rana is a reference to a common frog)
  • Like other trilobites, it has a habit of rolling up into a ball like a pill bug ("volvation") in order to protect themselves from predators
• Terataspis grandis


  • Is a huge lichida of about 60 cm
  • Almost the entire body is covered with spines and tubercles
  • Presumed to be a detritivore that was also an opportunistic predator, preying on small burrowing animals, such as molluscs, worms, or arthropods
• Importance of arthropods


  • Biodiversity
  • Decomposition
  • Pollination
  • Food source
  • Predation and pest control
  • Soil aeration
• Biodiversity


  • Arthropods represent a significant portion of global biodiversity
  • They are incredibly diverse, with over a million described species, making up a large part of the Earth's animal kingdom
  • This diversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem stability and resilience
• Decomposition


  • Arthropods, particularly insects and some arachnids, play a vital role in the decomposition process
  • They break down organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances, which are then recycled back into the soil as nutrients
  • This process is crucial for nutrient cycling and soil health
• Pollination


  • Many arthropods, especially insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles, are important pollinators
  • They facilitate the reproduction of flowering plants, ensuring the production of fruits, seeds, and nuts
  • Approximately 75% of the world's flowering plants rely on pollinators, many of which are arthropods, for reproduction
• Food source


  • Arthropods serve as a primary food source for many other animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals
  • They form an essential link in the food chain, transferring energy from primary producers (plants) to higher trophic levels
  • Without arthropods, many ecosystems would collapse due to a lack of food for higher-level consumers
• Predation and pest control

  • Some arthropods are predators that help control populations of other insects and pests
  • For example, spiders feed on a variety of insects, including mosquitoes and flies, helping to keep their populations in check
  • This natural pest control is essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and reducing the need for chemical pesticides
• Soil aeration


  • Arthropods serve as a primary food source for many other animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals
  • They form an essential link in the food chain, transferring energy from primary producers (plants) to higher trophic levels
  • Without arthropods, many ecosystems would collapse due to a lack of food for higher-level consumers
• Arthropods


  • They serve as a primary food source for many other animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals
  • They form an essential link in the food chain, transferring energy from primary producers (plants) to higher trophic levels
  • Without arthropods, many ecosystems would collapse due to a lack of food for higher-level consumers
• Arthropods


  • They represent a significant portion of global biodiversity
  • They are incredibly diverse, with over a million described species, making up a large part of the Earth's animal kingdom
  • This diversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem stability and resilience
• Decomposition


  1. Arthropods, particularly insects and some arachnids, break down organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances

  2. These simpler substances are then recycled back into the soil as nutrients

  3. This process is crucial for nutrient cycling and soil health