Phylum Arthropoda - Examples, Characteristics

May 19, 2023, 16:45 IST

Hey, are you still confused about the phylum Arthropoda? So, you are on the right page Here we will be discussing the largest phylum of the animal kingdom that can survive in any condition.Arthropod fossils, which include trilobites, merostomes, and crabs, are thought to have first formed during the Cambrian epoch, which lasted from 541 million to 485.4 million years ago. One of the first Arthropods was the trilobite.Arthropods are present in large numbers and are still evolving day by day. Students can refer to this article to know which other animals form a part of this phylum, their characteristics, and their economic importance. You will also, get details on how the members of the phylum are classified.

Arthropoda Introduction

The word Arthropod is derived from the Greek word “arthron”, which means “joint”, and “podos” which means “foot” which altogether means “jointed leg”.

Arthopoda is the largest phylum of the animal kingdom having special habitat quality i.e. they can live on land, water, or as parasites. The major features of Arthropoda include jointed appendages, segmented bodies and a chitinous exoskeleton structure. These parts provide them great flexibility and mobility and also help the organism in protecting itself from predators. The Insecta class covers a large portion of the species in the world among Arthropods. The body of the animals of the Phylum Arthropoda consists of three divisions: a segmented body, an exoskeleton made up of chitin, and jointed appendages.

Arthropoda Characteristics

• About 80-85% of all animal species in the animal kingdom are covered by Phylum Arthropoda.
• They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, coelomate animals.
• A chitinous exoskeleton form of body covering is present in Arthropods.
• Organ system level of organisation is present in them.
• The coelomic cavity is filled with blood.
• It is separated into the head, thorax, and abdomen, which are three distinct components.
• The head is fused with the thorax and is called a cephalothorax in some cases.
• They contain an open circulatory system, the blood flows in the haemocoel, and colourless blood (hemolymph) is contained by them.
• A dorsal heart is embedded in them.
• The respiratory organ is different in different arthropods.
• In aquatic forms, respiration occurs through gills, and respiration occurs through the book lungs or trachea in terrestrial form.
• From the double ventral nerve cord, which extends along the ventral body wall, the nervous system arises
• It bears segmental ganglia in each segment of the body.
• The Malpighian tubules and green glands are present as excretory systems in some of the Arthropods.
• They consist of some sensory organs like antennae, eyes (compound and simple), statocysts, or balancing organs.
• Arthropods can survive in any habitat.
• They produce their offspring by sexual reproduction.
• Sexes are separate and fertilization is internal within their body.
• With the larval stage, there is direct or indirect development.
• Certain arthropods go through parthenogenesis, such as honey bee’s drones.

Arthropoda Classification

The phylum Arthropoda is divided into five sub-phylum described below in brief:

Phylum-Arthropoda

Subphylum I (Trilobitomorpha)

• They are primitive arthropods.
• They are extinct now.
• They were commonly found during the Paleozoic era 541 million years ago).
• Their bodies are mainly divided into three lobes: one median and two lateral lobes.
• Their bodies are divided into head, abdomen and pygidium (terminal body region).
• A pair of antennae and compound eyes are present on them.
• They have biramous appendages (two branches) .

Class:- Trilobita

Sub-phylum II (Chelicerata)

• They are mostly found on the land.
• The body is broadly divided into the cephalothorax and abdomen.
• Antennae are absent from them.
• The abdomen contains a total of 13 segments.
• Respiration occurs via the trachea or the gills.
• The excretory organ is the Malpighian tubules.
• Examples: Aramea, Limulus,

Class:-Arachnida

Class:-Merostomata

Class:-Pycnogonida

Sub-phylum III (Myriapoda)

• They are mostly terrestrial.
• Their bodies are elongated.
• Consisting of many segments within their body.
• Simple eyes, two pairs of jaws, and a pair of antennae are all present.
• They contain many legs.
• The epistome and labrum are present on the upper lip of the mouth.
• One or more maxillae are present on the lower lip.
• Within the mouth, there is a pair of mandibles.
• For respiration they use the trachea.
• The excretion process occurs by Malpighian tubules.
• Examples: Julus, Scolopendra,

Class:-Chilopoda

Class:-Diplopoda

Class:-Symphyla

Class:- Pauropoda

Sub-phylum IV (Crustacea)

• They are mostly aquatic while some are parasitic.
• They can live on land as well.
• The body is divided into cephalothorax (head + thorax) and abdomen.
• Respiration takes place by both body surfaces or gills.
• They have two pairs of antennae.
• There are a couple of compound eyes.
• The excretion occurs through coxal glands or green glands or antennary glands.
• They show indirect development within themselves.
• They have five pairs of appendages
• Daphnia, Palaemon

Class:-Branchiopoda

Class:-Remipedia

Class:- Cephalocarida

Class:- Maxillopoda

Class:- Ostracoda

Class:- Malacostraca

Sub-phylum V (Hexapoda)

• They contain the largest number of species.
• They can be discovered in a variety of habitats.
• The three primary components of the body are the head, thorax, and abdomen.
• Three pairs of appendages are present.
• They have a pair of compound eyes.
• The thorax contains three segments.
• Respiration occurs in them by book lungs or trachea.
• Excretion occurs by Malpighian tubules.
• They show indirect development.
• Examples: Mosquitoes, Butterflies, Ants, Bees, Wasps, Termites, etc

Class:- Insecta

Class:- Entoganatha

Arthropoda Examples

Some of the common examples of Arthropoda are as below

Barnacles, brine shrimp, crabs, crayfish, fish, lice, horseshoe shrimp, krill, lobsters, seed shrimp, shrimp, aphids, beetles, butterflies, cicadas, cockroaches, dragonflies, fleas, flies, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, lice, mayflies, praying mantis, stink, bugs, silverfishes, termites etc.

Arthropoda's Economic Significance

A healthy ecology depends heavily on the Phylum Arthropoda. These are some highlights of the significance of the Phylum Arthropoda:

1. Pollination: Insects are important for flower pollination.
2. Soil fertility: This Phylum's organisms, such as ants, beetles, and larvae, penetrate the soil, enhancing soil fertility.
3. Plant nutrition: Ants and termites nourish the soil, giving plants nutrients.
4. Biological Control: Because they are predators, members of this phylum aid in the biological management of pests.
5. Silk: Commercial silk is supplied by Silkmoth and is used in the textile sector.
6. Honey: Honey is made by honeybees.
7. Dyeing: Several dyes are made using lace insects.
8. Food: Crabs and prawns are examples of arthropods that are used in foodstuff.
9. Drugs: They are present in numerous drugs. For instance, blister beetle blood is used to create cantharidine.
10. Scientific Research: They are utilised in lab-based scientific research.

Arthropoda FAQs

Q1. Which is the largest Arthropod?

Ans. Coconut Crab and Birgus Latro are the largest arthropodae that fall in the crustacea phylum.

Q2. Name the arthropods that adapted to the dry land first.

Ans. Scorpions, Millipede and Centipede were the first to adapt to the dry land.

Q3. When did the first Arthropods evolve?

Ans. The first arthropods are believed to have evolved 545 million years ago as per fossils record.

Q4. How did the arthropods evolve?

Ans. From the same root as the annelids the arthropods are believed to have evolved. The three lineages of arthropods are believed to have evolved independently from a common ancestor.

Q5. What are some main characteristics of arthropods?

Ans. The important characteristics of arthropods include:

• They possess an exoskeleton.
• They have jointed appendages.
• Their body is segmented.
• They are bilaterally symmetrical.
• They possess an open circulatory system.

Q6. What is the classification of Arthropoda?

Ans. Crustacea, Myriapoda, Hexapoda, Chelicerata, Onychophora, and Trilobitomorpha are the phylum of Arthropoda and that's how the classification of animals belonging to the arthropods is done.