Arthropod Classes Flashcards

Study Notes

Phylum Arthropod

Ecdysozoan with jointed appendages.
Comprises 1 million species, primarily insects.
Segmented body with specialization known as tagmatization (head, thorax, abdomen).
Exoskeleton made of chitin.
Paired jointed appendages include legs and antennae.
Possesses a well-developed nervous system with a brain and ventral nerve cord.
Capable of functioning even after decapitation.
Features both compound and simple eyes.
Uses pheromones for intra-species communication.
Has an open circulatory system without small blood vessels.
Undergoes metamorphosis during lifecycle.

Subphylum Trilobitomorpha

Known as "three lobes".
All members are extinct.
Best represented in Cambrian period fossils.
Exhibited speed, agility, and keen vision.

Subphylum Chelicerata

Translates to "claw"; includes horseshoe crabs, spiders, mites, and ticks.
Among the earliest terrestrial animals.
Body divided into two segments: cephalothorax (sensory, lacks antennae and mandibles) and abdomen.
Chelicerae are the first pair of appendages, functioning as claws, pincers, or fangs.
Pedipalps serve in food handling and sperm transfer, followed by four pairs of walking legs.

Class Arachnida

Predatory lifestyle; consume liquid diets by secreting enzymes to liquefy prey.
Utilize book lungs for gas exchange, conserving water.
Malpighian tubules act as excretory organs, concentrating waste as uric acid.
Equipped with several pairs of eyes and sensory hairs.
Possess spinnerets for web production.
Dioecious reproductive system; beneficial for controlling insect populations.

Subphylum Crustacea

Known as "hard shelled", having CaCO3 in the exoskeleton.
Includes crayfish, shrimp, lobsters, and crabs; mostly aquatic with some terrestrial exceptions (e.g., crabs, isopods).
Body consists of two segments: cephalothorax and abdomen.
Features two pairs of antennae, jaw-like mandibles, maxillae for food handling, and five pairs of walking legs (first pair often modified into claws).
Capable of regenerating legs or claws; autotomy is the ability to self-amputate.
Feed on dead, decaying organisms, invertebrates, and plants.

Subphylum Uniramia

Translates to "one lobe"; includes insects, centipedes, and millipedes.

Superclass Myriapoda

Known as "ten thousand foot".

Class Diplopoda

Refers to "thousand leggers"; includes millipedes.
Characterized by 1-2 pairs of legs per body segment.
Cylindrical and worm-like bodies found in damp terrestrial environments.
Herbivorous diet with no poisonous species.

Class Chilopoda

Known as "hundred leggers"; includes centipedes.
Have one pair of legs per body segment, with the first pair modified into fangs containing poison glands.
Body structure is elongated and flattened; found in damp terrestrial habitats.
Carnivorous behavior.

Class Hexapoda (Insects)

Referred to as "six foot"; accounts for 75% of all living organisms.
Exhibits an exoskeleton and the ability to fly.
Adaptations include water-conserving systems, desiccation-resistant eggs, and internal fertilization.
Undergoes two types of metamorphosis: complete (egg - larvae - pupa - adult) and incomplete (egg hatches into nymph, which molts into adult).
Highly versatile diet; feed on diverse food sources.
Structure includes three tagmata (head, thorax, abdomen), one pair of antennae, one pair of compound eyes, mandibles/mouthparts, three pairs of legs, and two pairs of wings.
Malpighian tubules and trachea facilitate waste excretion and oxygen transport, respectively.
Dioecious with internal fertilization; vital for pollination, nutrient cycling, and as a part of food webs in ecosystems.

Description

Explore the fascinating world of arthropods with these flashcards. Learn about their unique characteristics, classification, and the defining features that make them one of the most successful phyla on Earth. This quiz covers essential terms and concepts related to the phylum arthropod.

Arthropod Classes Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of Phylum Arthropod?

All species in the Subphylum Trilobitomorpha are extinct.

What are the two segments of Subphylum Chelicerata?

The class that includes spiders and scorpions is known as ______.

Which of the following organisms belong to the Subphylum Crustacea?

What term describes the ability of some crustaceans to regenerate legs or claws?

The super class that includes centipedes and millipedes is known as ______.

What is the common name for organisms in Class Diplopoda?

Class Chilopoda includes herbivorous organisms.

Which class is considered the largest group of living organisms?

Insects undergo two types of metamorphosis: complete and ______.