Class Arachnida
Spiders, Ticks & Mites
Class Branchiopoda
Fairy Shrimp & Water Fleas
Class Branchiura
Branchiurians
Class Cephalocarida
Cephalocarids
Class Chilopoda
Centipedes
Class Cirripedia
Barnacles
Class Diplopoda
Millipedes
Class Insecta
Insects
Class Malacostraca
Crabs, Krill & Shrimp
Class Maxillipoda
Copepods
Class Merostomata
Horseshoe Crabs
Class Ostracoda
Ostracods
Class Pauropoda
Pauropods
Class Pycnogonida
Sea Spiders
Class Remipedia
Primitive Crustaceans
Class Symphyla
Pseudocentipedes & Symphylans

Members of the phylum Arthropoda are distinguished by having segmented bodies and segmented appendages. The bodies of most arthropods are made of two or three distinct parts-a cephalum (head), a thorax (chest), and an abdomen. They have a hardened external skeleton, often called the exoskeleton, made of the nitrogen-rich polysaccharide chitin. As the animal outgrows the exoskeleton, it is shed and a new one is regenerated. Many arthropods metamorphose: the egg develops into a larval form that differs considerably from the sexually mature adult. Although arthropods range in size from 100 µm to 60 cm long, most adults are about 1 mm long.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Additions?
Please contact The Virtual Zoo Staff

Database Last Updated: 10 Jan 2009

You are visitor count here since 21 May 2013

page design & content copyright © 2024 Andrew S. Harris

return to virtualzoo.org home

This page reprinted from http://www.virtualzoo.org. Copyright © 2024 Andrew S. Harris.

The Virtual Zoo, San Jose, CA 95125, USA