Phylum Arthropoda

Habitat
By:
Vishal.N.Rao
IX D
9448

Arthropods have diversified to live in

every habitat imaginable, from the
tropics to the poles, from the bottom
of the oceans to the top of the
mountains, both underground and
inside other animals and plants.
They are one of only two major
animal groups that have adapted to
life in dry environments.
The arthropod subgroup insects is

EXTERNAL
FEATURES
of
ARTHROPODS
By:Mayur.S.K

9D

FEATURES

FEATURES

EXOSKELETON
Epidermis secretes an
external skeleton called the exoskeleton.
Advantages of possessing an
exoskeleton: provides strong support.
provides rigid levers that muscles can
attach to and pull against.
offers protection.
serves as a barrier to prevent internal
tissues from drying out; important
because many arthropods live on land.
serves as a barrier to prevent
infection.

STRUCTURE
Composed of the polysaccharide
chitin and protein glycoprotein.
Outer surface called the epicuticle;
contains waxes .
The thicker portion is called the
procuticle which is divided into: exocuticle .
endocuticle.
In the exocuticle, the glycoprotein
chains are cross linked; process is

DIAGRAM

Epicuticle
Exocuticle
Procuticle
Endocuticle

Epidermis

MOULTING
In arthropods , such asinsects,arachnids
andcrustaceans, moulting is the shedding of
theexoskeleton(which is often called
itsshell), typically to let the organism grow.
This process is calledecdysis. It is
commonly said thatecdysisis necessary
because the exoskeleton is rigid and cannot
grow like skin, but this is simplistic, ignoring
the fact mostArthropodawith soft, flexible
skins also undergo ecdysis. The new
exoskeleton is initially soft but hardens
after the moulting of the old exoskeleton.

STAGES

EXAMPLE

JOINTED APPENDAGES
Exoskeleton divided into a number
of plates and
cylinders.
At the junction point between plates and cylinders, the
exoskeleton remains thin and flexible; these are the joints.
Jointed appendages allows arthropods to move efficiently and
quickly.
Muscles are integral to arthropod movement; they attach to the
inner side of the exoskeleton; they often function as a lever
system.
Vertebratejoint

Arthropodjoint

ArthropodSegmentation:ReductioninMetamerism

The evolution of the arthropods witnessed a

reduction in metamerism.
The arthropods evolved modified groups of
segments (e.g., segments became lost, some fused
together .
The fusion of groups of segments into functional
groups is called tagmatization.
In so doing, various appendages on segments
became specialized for functions other than
locomotion, e.g. prey capture, filter feeding, sensing
various kinds of stimuli, gas exchange, copulation,
etc.

SEGMENTATION

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Arthropods have a wide

variety of respiratory systems.
Small species often do not have
any, since their high ratio of
surface area to volume enables
simple diffusion through the body
surface to supply enough oxygen.
Crustacea usually have gills that
are modified appendages (e..g.,
prawn). Many arachnids have book
lungs (e.g., king crab). Tracheae,
17

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (contd.)

Digestive System
By:
R.C.Vikram
Nag
IX D
9448
Red Group

Arthropods exhibit every type

of feeding mode. They include
carnivores, herbivores, detritus
feeders, filter feeders, and
parasites. Typically, paired
appendages around the mouth
are used for collecting and
handling food and are usually
specialized in accordance with
the particular diet of the
animal.

In Arthropods, the digestive

system is well developed with distinct
organs. Each arthropod has a
differentdigestive
systemaccording to their method
of feeding and body structure.
Though the digestive tract varies
somewhat based on diet of the
animal, typically it has three main
regions: a foregut, midgut and
hindgut. Salivary glands are also
present.

Both the fore and hindgut are

lined with cuticle. Malpighian
tubules empty into the digestive
system. Their product is uric acid.
In general, however, the midgut
region is the principal site
ofenzymeproduction and
absorption of digested food. The
enzymes may pass forward into
the front part of the gut and even
outside into the body of the prey,
in the case of spiders.

Digestive System of Spider

Digestive System of Prawn

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Arthropods have open circulatory
systems, although most have a few short,
open-ended arteries. Capillaries absent,
arteries directly open into the sinuses,
which together form a haemocoel which is
filled with haemolymph. The blood is
colourless due to absence of haemoglobin
pigment but the most common respiratory
pigment in arthropods is copper-based
hemocyanin; this is used by many
crustaceans and a few centipedes. Heart is
tubular and lies on the dorsal side.

Excretion

By Gaurav S Athreya

In Crustaceans
Crustaceans have green
glands, which is a pair of
excretory organs. Green
glands collect waste
leftover in different parts of
the body, including the
bloodstream. These are
connected by ducts that
lead to pores located under

In Insects
Insects have malpighian
tubules which gathers waste from
blood and puts them into an
excretory duct that leads to
intensine. Excretion is eliminated in
feces.

As well as malpighian tubules,

arachnids have coxal glands that
also participate in excretion

REPRODUCTION IN
ARTHROPODS
By Pragun J

A few arthropods
arehermaphroditic, that is, each can
have the organs of bothsexes.
However, individuals of most species
remain of one sex their entire lives.
Most arthropods reproduce bysexual
reproduction.Aquaticarthropods may
breed by external fertilization or
byinternal fertilization where
fertilization takes place inside the
body . All known terrestrial
arthropods use internal

Economic Importance

Crustaceans such as crabs, lobster,

crayfish, shrimp and prawns have been
a part of human cuisine and are now
farmed on a large commercial scale.
Cooked tarantulas are considered a
delicacy in Cambodia.
The red dye cochineal produced from a
Central American species insect
became Mexicos second most lucrative
export when the region was under
Spanish rule.

Bees produce honey which is the basis

of the rapidly growing industry and
international
trade.
The blood of
horseshoe crabs

contains a clotting agent Limulus

Amoebocyte Lysate which is now
used to test that antibiotics and
kidney machines are free of
Recently insects have also gained
dangerous bacteria and to detect
attention as potential sources of drugs
some cancers.
and
medicinal
substances
Theother
greatest
contribution
of
Arthropods to human food supply is by
pollination. Lately they are also used in

Pictures of arthropods
Palaemon

Cancer

Lobster

Grasshopper

Cockroach

Prawn

Crab

Scorpion

Praying Mantis

Millipede

Tarantula

Mosquito