Phylum Arthropoda
Arthropods have segmented bodies, a tough exoskeleton, jointed appendages, mandables, and have the ability to molt. This phylum includes insects, crabs, centipedes, spiders, and other creepy-crawlies. The Exoskeleton is a tough external covering. Chitin is a carbonate, protein making up the exoskeleton.
The primitive arthropods were made up of many identical segments. Over time, those segments were either lost or fused together.
Arthropods use more complex organ systems to carry out the essential functions. They are interrelated systems; the functioning of one system depends on those of the other systems.
This phylum consists of herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, filter feeders, detritivores, and parasites. Their mouthparts are adapted to the different types of food they eat.
Most terrestrial arthropods respirate through a network of branching tracheal tubes that extend throughout the body. Air enters and leaves tracheal tubes through spiracles, which are small openings along the sides of the body. Other arthropods, like spiders or horseshoe crabs, use a system called book lungs. These are organs that have layers of respiratory tissues stacked like pages in a book. Most aquatic arthropods, like crabs or lobsters, breathe through featherlike gills.
They have open circulatory systems. The heart pumps through branching arteries, that then enter the tissues throughout the body.
Malpighian Tubules are sack-like organs that extract the waste from the blood and add them t the digestive waste that is let out through the anus. Aquatics use diffusion, and move waste from the body into the surrounding water.
Most arthropods have well developed nervous systems, including a brain. There are two nerves that connect the brain to the ventral nerve cord. Along the nerve cord are several of nerve cells called ganglia. The ganglia coordinates movement of the legs and wings. They also have compound eyes, which have many lenses.
These animals have well developed muscular groupings and generate force by contracting and pulling on the exoskeleton.
Terrestiral arthropods use internal fertilization to reproduce. In some species, males deposit the sperm into the females. Others deposit a sperm packet, which can be picked up by the female. The aquatic arhtrpods can either internally or externally fertilize.
The primitive arthropods were made up of many identical segments. Over time, those segments were either lost or fused together.
Arthropods use more complex organ systems to carry out the essential functions. They are interrelated systems; the functioning of one system depends on those of the other systems.
This phylum consists of herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, filter feeders, detritivores, and parasites. Their mouthparts are adapted to the different types of food they eat.
Most terrestrial arthropods respirate through a network of branching tracheal tubes that extend throughout the body. Air enters and leaves tracheal tubes through spiracles, which are small openings along the sides of the body. Other arthropods, like spiders or horseshoe crabs, use a system called book lungs. These are organs that have layers of respiratory tissues stacked like pages in a book. Most aquatic arthropods, like crabs or lobsters, breathe through featherlike gills.
They have open circulatory systems. The heart pumps through branching arteries, that then enter the tissues throughout the body.
Malpighian Tubules are sack-like organs that extract the waste from the blood and add them t the digestive waste that is let out through the anus. Aquatics use diffusion, and move waste from the body into the surrounding water.
Most arthropods have well developed nervous systems, including a brain. There are two nerves that connect the brain to the ventral nerve cord. Along the nerve cord are several of nerve cells called ganglia. The ganglia coordinates movement of the legs and wings. They also have compound eyes, which have many lenses.
These animals have well developed muscular groupings and generate force by contracting and pulling on the exoskeleton.
Terrestiral arthropods use internal fertilization to reproduce. In some species, males deposit the sperm into the females. Others deposit a sperm packet, which can be picked up by the female. The aquatic arhtrpods can either internally or externally fertilize.