WHAT IS PHYLUM ARTHROPOD?

Phylum Arthropod is one of the eight

invertebrates (organisms which do not have

back bone) phylums starting from porifera

to echinodermata. The members of the

phylum Arthropoda are commonly known as

the animals with jointed legs. This is the

biggest animal taxon, forming more than

80% of the living organisms.

Arthropods live in almost every habitat

on the earth: Terrestrial which includes:

desert, forest, grassland and tundra and

aquatic which include: freshwater and

marine; some live on top of mountains

while others live at great depths in the

ocean and icy environments.

Arthropods are triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical, coelomate animals.

The arthropod body is covered by an

exoskeleton made of chitinous cuticle.

The body is segmented. A pair of

jointed appendages generally arises

from each body segment.

Arthropods generally posses compound

eyes

GENERALLY THE HEAD IS WELL DEVELOPED

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IS WELL DEVELOPED

WITH DISTINCT ORGANS; SALIVARY GLANDS ARE

PRESENT.

They have an open type of circulatorysystem in which blood circulates in thebody cavity

Arthropods periodically shed their body skin; this process is known as moulting.

They are the only invertebrates which have developed wings and can fly.

NUTRITION

Arthropods exhibit a variety of feeding habits. There

are carnivores, herbivores, detritus feeders, filter

feeders, and parasites. Specialized paired

appendages around the mount help in capturing and

handling food. Many carnivorous arthropods capture

prey with poison, which is usually administered with

a special appendage.

Arthropods are unisexual and reproduce by

sexual reproduction. In some members of

the phylum the male and female can be

identified by external features. This

conditions is known as sexual dimorphism.

Fertilization is usually internal.

Economic ImportanceMany arthropods such as shrimps, lobsters

and crabs are used as food throughout theworld.

Honey bee produce Honey.

Silk mouth produces Silk.

Honey and Silk are economically veryimportant.

Dis-advantages

A large number of species of insects andmites attack food crops and timber.

Locusts destroy large amounts of food cropsevery year.

Termites destroy huge buildings, coconuttrees, etc.

Diseases such as malaria, African sleepingsickness, bubonic plague, dengue fever,elephantiasis etc, are spread by insects andother arthropods.

Example for Arthropods