submit urlsubmit rss feedadd directory

article

Arthropods (phylum Arthropoda) (from Greek ἀρθρον, meaning joint and πούς/ποδός, meaning foot) are the largest phylum of animals and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others. Approximately eighty percent of extant animal species are arthropods, with over a million modern species described and a fossil record reaching back to the early Cambrian. Arthropods are common throughout marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and even aerial environments, as well as including various symbiotic and parasitic forms. They range in size from microscopic plankton (~0.25 mm) up to forms several metres long.

Arthropods are characterised by the possession of a segmented body with appendages on each segment. They have a dorsal heart and a ventral nervous system. All arthropods are covered by a hard exoskeleton that is made out of chitin, a polysaccharide. Periodically, an arthropod sheds this covering when it moults. This covering makes arthropods less prone to dehydration.

Basic arthropod structure


More on [ Arthropod ]


directory of related categories

 

 
directory of related topics

Arthropods :: Invertebrates
Arthropoda :: Zoology

 
Arthropods RSS feed
Arthropods - Twitter Search

@natguest Oh, you and your cottages. Try getting a bird to catch the spider? (srsly, isn't it too cold for arthropods by now?)
jamesmcgraw (James McGraw) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:32:14 -0000
@natguest Oh, you and your cottages. Try getting a bird to catch the spider? (srsly, isn't it too cold for arthropods by now?)
...from the arthropods. But other mammals?
jjonesfigures (John Jones) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:52:36 -0000
...from the arthropods. But other mammals?
I spent most of my childhood believing that arthropods scuttling into my ears were an inevitability
snoozenstein (snoozenstein) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:47:57 -0000
I spent most of my childhood believing that arthropods scuttling into my ears were an inevitability
Garden spiders shouldn't give you the creeps - Eight-legged arthropods help control insect populations By Michael W... http://ow.ly/15YYqY
ShuBeePestCtrl (ShuBee) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:37:58 -0000
Garden spiders shouldn't give you the creeps - Eight-legged arthropods help control insect populations By Michael W... http://ow.ly/15YYqY
Garden spiders shouldn't give you the creeps: Eight-legged arthropods help control insect populations By Michae.. http://bit.ly/4yN6QQ
MagicPoolSvcs (Magic Pool Services) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:33:40 -0000
Garden spiders shouldn't give you the creeps: Eight-legged arthropods help control insect populations By Michae.. http://bit.ly/4yN6QQ
@nellnockles I write about all kinds of arthropods, not just insects. Haven't gotten to mites yet. Soon!
AboutInsects (AboutInsects) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:39:03 -0000
@nellnockles I write about all kinds of arthropods, not just insects. Haven't gotten to mites yet. Soon!

 
Subscribe to Arthropods RSS feed

directory of related sites

Botar by Eights - Breeder and supplier of tarantulas and scorpions, feed, and supplies.
Meta Description: [ Botar By Eights is your source for Tarantulas, Giant Tarantulas, Pet Tarantulas, Scorpions, Pet Scorpions, Emperor Scorpions, Centipedes, Spiders, Pet Spiders and much more ]

Curts Inverts - Supplies invertebrates of the American Southwest including tarantulas, scorpions, true spiders, myriapods, and insects.

Entomental - Sellers of stick insects, spiders, praying mantids and other arthropods. Includes care sheets and species information.
Meta Description: [ entomental, entomology, products ]

The God Of Insects - Insects and other arthropods alive, dead and in pictures.

The Hissing Roach - Suppliers of the giant Madagascar hissing cockroach. Also have all of the required breeding supplies.
Meta Description: [ turtle gift jewelry magazine reptile care pet health tank food ]

Arthropods related videos
Warren The Horseshoe Crab
Next Video
Arthropods related videos

 

HOMEADVERTISINGABOUT US

articlesartsbusinesscomputersgameshealthhospitalshomekids & teensnewsmobilephysiciansrecreationreferenceregionalscienceshoppingsocietysportsworld


Submit a Site About Become an Editor