Pre Lab Exam 6

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and definitions related to the diversity and anatomy of arthropods.

Phylum Arthropoda

The most diverse group of animals characterized by jointed appendages, an exoskeleton, and segmented bodies.

Exoskeleton

A rigid external skeleton made of chitin that provides protection, moisture barrier, and a place for muscle attachment.

Molting

The process of periodically shedding the exoskeleton as an organism grows.

Jointed appendages

Limbs adapted for locomotion, feeding, reproduction, defense, and sensing the environment, which can be biramous (two-branched) or uniramous (one-branched).

Chelicerata

A class of arthropods that includes spiders, mites, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs, characterized by chelicerae for feeding. They also have a pedipalp used for capturing prey and have 2 body regirons including the abdomen and Cephalothorax

Cephalothorax

The fused head and thorax found in members of the class Chelicerata.

Pedipalps

The second pair of appendages in arachnids, modified for capturing prey, sensing the environment, or copulating.

Spinnerets

Independently moving nozzles in spiders that release silk from internal glands.

Class Myriapoda

A class of arthropods that includes centipedes and millipedes, characterized by elongated bodies with many segments.

Class Hexapoda

The largest class of arthropods, which includes insects, characterized by three body regions (head, thorax, abdomen) and six legs.

Tracheae

An efficient respiratory system in insects that conduct air throughout the body.

Modified mouthparts

Specialized mouth structures in insects adapted for different feeding strategies, such as siphoning, sponging, piercing-sucking, and chewing.

Ovipositor

A reproductive structure found in female insects used for laying eggs.

Arachnids

Scorpions, ticks, mites, daddy longlegs, spiders.

They have Chelicerae modified as fangs. With Four pairs of walking legs. Scorpions were the first terrestrial

arthropods (425 million years ago).

Crustacea

A class that includes Crayfish, crabs, shrimps. They have Biramous (double-branched) appendages with compound eyes and two pairs of antennae.

Centipedes

Move rapidly. Dorsoventrally flattened. Have large maxillipeds (fangs).Each segment bears one pair of legs.

Millipedes

Move slowly.Rounded bodies.Roll up to protect soft underside.

Each segment bears two pairs of legs.

Myriapoda

One pair of antennae and 3 pairs of appendages modified into mouth parts. Include both centipedes and Millipedes

Class Hexapoda

70% of all known species of animals. They have Three body regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. They have six legs. Most insects have wings (although they are not modified appendages, but outgrowths of the thoracic exoskeleton). Efficient respiratory system (tracheae) that conduct air throughout the body.