CHAPTER 8

THE ARTHROPODS
Course Instructor: Ms. Hira Rafiq

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 Evolutionary Perspective
Diversity among copepods:
The species of copepods have greatest no. of individuals. The size of
copepods is 1 to 2 mm. These are crustaceans. Copepods are very successful
marine animals. They feed on the photosynthetic production (planktonic
algae) in the open oceans. If plankton net is thrown behind a slowly moving
boat in the ocean, 3 million copepod are collect after only 20 mins. It can fill
to gallon pale. Copepods are food for fish, whale, sharks, blue whale and it
relatives. Humans eat these fishes. Therefore, human also directly benefited
from it. Unfortunately, we do not get this food directly. We use them as a
feed of poultry. Therefore, we lose 99% of the original energy present in the
copepods. Copepods are belonged to phylum arthropoda. Cray fish, lobsters,
spiders, mites, scorpions and insects are also arthropods. Zoologists have
described about 1 million species of arthropods. It is estimated that 30-50
million species are still undescribed.
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 CHARACTERISTICS
1. They show metamerism. Metamerism is modified by the
specialization of body regions for specific functions
(tagmatization).
2. Chitinous exoskeleton provides support and protection. It is
modified to form sensory structures.
3. They have paired jointed appendages.
4. Ecdysis or molting takes place during growth .
5. They have ventral nervous system.
6. Coelom reduced to cavities. These cavities are reduced to gonads
and sometimes excretory organs.
7. They have open circulatory system. Blood is released into tissue
spaces(haemocoel) derived from the blastocoel.
8. They have complete digestive tract.
9. Metamorphosis is often present. It reduces competition between
immature and adult stages.
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Classification And Relationships To Other Animals
The arthropods and annelids are closely related. They share many
protostome characteristics. These are :
1- Both have schizocoelous coelom formation.
2- Their mouth is developed from blastopore.
3- Paired ventral nerve cords are present in them.
4- Both have metamerism.
These characteristics show that arthropods and annelids have
common ancestor. But zoologist disagree about the
evolutionary relationships among the arthropods. Many
zoologists believe that it is not 1 phylum, but 3 living
arthropods are divided into 3 sub phyla:

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1-Chelicerata
2-Crustacea
3-Uniramia
4-Trilobitomorpha: all members of this sub-phylum are extinct.

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Reason of Success
Three characteristics contributed in the success of arthropods:
i. Metamerism
ii. Cuticle/ Exoskeleton
iii. Metamorphosis
1. Metamerism
 Metamerism of arthropods is apparent externally.
 Metamerism produces specialization in regions of the body for
specific functions. The regional specialization is called
tagmatization.
 In arthropods, body regions are called tagmata. Tagmata are
specialized for feeding and sensory perception, locomotion, and
visceral functions.

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2. Cuticle/Exoskeleton
Arthropods have an external jointed skeleton. It is composed
of cuticle. Exoskeleton encloses the arthropods. It performs following
function.
 Support, protection
 Water conservation
 Muscle attachment
Cuticle is secreted by epidermis. Epidermis is also called hypodermis.
Cuticle has two layers:
i. Epicuticle
• Outer layer
• Composed of waxy lipoprotein
• Impermeable for water
• Act as barrier to microorganisms and pesticides

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ii. Procuticle
• Below epicuticle.
• Composed of chitin and protein.
• Procuticle provide hardening by calcium carbonate and also through
sclerotization.
• Sclerotization is a process in which layers of protein is chemically
cross-linked with one another. It hardens and darkens the exoskeleton.
Modifications of Exoskeleton
Exoskeleton causes many modifications and adaptations in arthropods.
 Invaginations for muscle attachment.
 It forms joints. A flexible articular membrane is present in the thinner
and less hardened areas.
 Sensila
 Gas exchange

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Ecdysis
The periodic shedding of exoskeleton for growth in
arthropods is called molting or ecdysis. It divides into four steps.
i. Procuticle dissolve and apart from epidermis.
ii. New cuticle form.
iii. Old cuticle breaks.
iv. Sclerotization hardens the new exoskeleton.

3. Metamorphosis
The radical change in body form and physiology from
immature larval stage to adult is called metamorphhosis.
 It is third most important characteristic of the arthropods.
 It reduce competition between adult and immature stages.

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THANK YOU