What is an arthropod?

Question 1

What 3 things do Arthropods share with annelids?

Answer 1

1. Through gut
2. Ventral nerve cord and segmented ganglia
3. Dorsal circulatory system

Question 2

In what 2 factors do arthropods differ from annelids?

Answer 2

1. External skeleton (moulted)
2. Paired jointed limbs (on each segment)

Question 3

What 2 features are true about arthropods?

Answer 3

1. Arthropods are animals with jointed limbs
2. Arthropods are animals with a segmented body design

Question 4

What is the skeleton of an arthropod composed of?

Answer 4

Chitin

Question 5

What is true of arthropod skeletons in the Crustacea taxa?

Answer 5

They are also made up of proteins and mineral salts such as calcium carbonate

Question 6

What is true of an arthropod’s cuticle and it’s shedding process?

Answer 6

The cuticle has to be shed periodically to allow growth (size vs biomass). This occurs through the hormonally mediate process known as ecdysis.

Question 7

What is true of the species richness of Arthropods?

Answer 7

The Arthropoda is the most diverse phylum of living organisms

Question 8

How many species of Arthropod are there?

Answer 8

> 1,100,000 described species

Question 9

What percentage of animal diversity do arthropods account for?

Answer 9

85%

Question 10

What is true of the estimated number of Arthropod species?

Answer 10

It is estimated that the real number of extant species span three orders of magnitude – 3-50+ million species.

Question 11

What is the ecological range of Arthropods?

Answer 11

They occur in all environments of earth

Question 12

What are 3 examples of an arthropod and the environment they live in?

Answer 12

1. In glaciers – Tardigrades(‘water bears’) – can undergo cryptobiosis
2. High mountains – Snow flea Boreus
3. External and internal animal parasites – Sacculina – barnacle parasites of crabs. Larve settles then the parasite spreads through the host – egg - containing sacs appear externally.