Arthropoda
Insects and crustaceans
Arthropoda is the phylum of invertebrate animals with segmented bodies, jointed limbs, and external skeletons—insects, spiders, crustaceans, centipedes.
The name means "jointed feet." More than 80 percent of known animal species are arthropods.
The singular arthropod and adjective arthropodan describe individual members or their characteristics: The fossil revealed an arthropod ancestor.
Major classification rank
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- segmentationDivision into sections
- jointed legsLimbs with flexible segments
bilateral symmetry · classification · clade · molting · chitin · Linnaean · phylogenetics · body plan
Multi-lensed visual organs
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- mandiblesPaired arthropod mouthparts
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
- thoraxCentral body cavity
abdomen · cephalothorax · spiracles · book lungs · ganglia · trachea · setae · ocelli
Study of insects
- arachnologyStudy of eight-legged arthropods
- DrosophilaFruit fly genus
- fossil recordRemains documenting prehistoric life
- Cambrian explosionSudden appearance of complex life
evolution · speciation · genomics · specimen · collection · Burgess Shale · field study · comparative anatomy
Six-legged arthropods
- arachnidsEight-legged invertebrates
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- beetlesHard-winged insects
- spidersWeb-spinning eight-legged creatures
crabs · centipedes · millipedes · scorpions · shrimp · lobster · butterflies · ants
Flower reproductive transfer
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- predationHunting and consuming prey
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
pest · vector · biodiversity · herbivory · scavenger · keystone species · population · habitat
phylum
Major classification rank
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- segmentationDivision into sections
jointed legs · bilateral symmetry · classification · clade · molting · chitin · Linnaean · phylogenetics · body plan · morphology
compound eyes
Multi-lensed visual organs
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- mandiblesPaired arthropod mouthparts
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
thorax · abdomen · cephalothorax · spiracles · book lungs · ganglia · trachea · setae · ocelli · labrum
entomology
Study of insects
- arachnologyStudy of eight-legged arthropods
- DrosophilaFruit fly genus
- fossil recordRemains documenting prehistoric life
Cambrian explosion · evolution · speciation · genomics · specimen · collection · Burgess Shale · field study · comparative anatomy
insects
Six-legged arthropods
- arachnidsEight-legged invertebrates
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- beetlesHard-winged insects
spiders · crabs · centipedes · millipedes · scorpions · shrimp · lobster · butterflies · ants · horseshoe crabs
pollination
Flower reproductive transfer
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- predationHunting and consuming prey
parasitism · pest · vector · biodiversity · herbivory · scavenger · keystone species · population · habitat · biomass