Phylum Arthropoda Characteristics
Some of the distinguishing features of Arthropoda are given below:
- The body consists of the head, thorax, and abdomen. There is a distinct head.
- They have jointed appendages.
- The body is covered with a thick, touch and non-living chitinous cuticle, which forms the exoskeleton.
- The true coelom is greatly reduced in adults, and is only represented by the cavities of the reproductive and excretory organs. The body cavity is a haemocoel viz., cavity filled with blood.
- Digestive tract is complete. The alimentary canal consists of the stomodaeum (foregut), mesenteron (midgut), and proctodaeum (hindgut).
- The blood vascular system is of open type viz, Blood does not flow in definite vessels. There are present irregular spaces, known as lacunae or sinuses, filled with blood to form the haemocoel.
- The respiratory organs are gills or book gills in aquatic forms and tracheae or book-lungs in terrestrial forms. The exchange of gases is also carried on by the general body surface in some forms.
- The excretory organs are either green glands or Malpighian tubules. In some forms, coxal glands are excretory organs.
- The annelids type of nervous system is present, viz., it consist of a nerve ring and a double ganglionated ventral nerve cord.
- In many arthropods, compound eyes are present, in which mosaic vision is developed.
- An important feature of the arthropods is the complete absence of the cilia.
- Endocrine glands are absent.
- Sexes are separate and the sexual dimorphism is observed in many forms. The development of the animal may involve metamorphosis.
- Parental care is often seen in many arthropods.
- Fertilization is usually internal, oviparous, or ovoviviparous.
Phylum Arthropoda
Phylum Arthropoda is the largest phylum in the Kingdom Animalia and it includes insects. Arthropoda makes up more than two-thirds of all known species worldwide. The phylum Arthropoda characteristics include jointed appendages, a well-organized body structure with a segmented design, and a tough exoskeleton made of chitin. The Arthropoda body is divided into three sections: head, thorax, and abdomen.
The Phylum Arthropoda examples include insects such as ants, and butterflies arachnids like spiders and scorpions, crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, as well as myriapods including centipedes and millipedes. In this article, we will cover the Phylum Arthropoda and its classification, and characteristics in detail.
Table of Content
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Phylum Arthropoda Characteristics
- Classification of Phylum Arthropoda
- Respiratory System of Phylum Arthropoda
- Circulation System of Phylum Arthropoda
- Exoskeleton of Arthropoda
- Nervous System of Phylum Arthropoda
- Digestive System of Phylum Arthropoda
- Excretory System of Phylum Arthropoda
- Reproduction System of Phylum Arthropoda
- Senses in Arthropods of Phylum Arthropoda
- Differences Between Annelids and Arthropods