Arthropods
Arthropods
Arthropods (/ɑːrˈθrɒpɒdz/, from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, "joint" and πούς pous, "foot") are an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Euarthropoda, which includes insects, arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans.
Etymology
The term "arthropod" comes from the Greek words "arthro-", meaning joint, and "-pod", meaning foot. This refers to the jointed feet characteristic of members of this phylum.
Classification
Arthropods are classified into four subphyla:
- Trilobitomorpha - extinct and includes trilobites
- Chelicerata - includes spiders, mites, scorpions, and related organisms
- Myriapoda - includes millipedes and centipedes
- Pancrustacea - includes crustaceans and insects
Characteristics
Arthropods are characterized by their jointed limbs and cuticle made of chitin, often mineralised with calcium carbonate. They have over time evolved a range of different features, so many lineages can be singled out by their specific features.
Related Terms
- Exoskeleton - A rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals, especially arthropods.
- Invertebrate - Animals that do not have a spinal column.
- Phylum - A principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom.
- Euarthropoda - The largest phylum in the animal kingdom which includes arthropods.
- Trilobitomorpha - An extinct subphylum of arthropods.
- Chelicerata - A subphylum of arthropods.
- Myriapoda - A subphylum of arthropods.
- Pancrustacea - A subphylum of arthropods.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Arthropods
- Wikipedia's article - Arthropods
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