PHYLUM ARTHROPODA

General Characteristics

The phylum includes the

crayfish, millipedes,
centipedes, ticks, mites,
Scorpions, Spiders. They are
found in every habitat and
exhibit tremendous adaptive
features and are perhaps the
most successful of all the
invaders of terrestrial habitat.

Arthropods arose from the

primitive stock of
polychaetaes or from an
ancestor common to both
arthropod and polychaetaes.
The relationship between the
arthropods and their ancestral
annelids are:

– Arthropods and annelids

are metamerically
 segmented. Mesmerism
is pronounced (obviously
seen) in the embryonic
development of all
arthropod and in many
adults. However this
feature are temporary in
adults crabs and mites
and is reduced int the
millipedes and
crustaceans.

– Some arthropods
segments bear a pair of
appendages. This
condition occurs among
the polychaetaes in which
each metameric segment
bears a pair of parapodia.
But the homologous
nature of the annelidʼs
parapodia and
Arthropodaʼs
appendages.
 – The nervous system in
both groups of animals
are constructed on the
same basic plain. The
plain comprises of a
dorsal anterior cerebral
ganglion which is joined
by ventral nerve cord
containing ganglionated
swelling in each segment.

– Some arthropods still

undergo holoblastic
determinate cleavage
during the course of
their embryonic
development.

Although Arthropoda
displays annelidian
characteristics, they have
undergone profound and
distinctive changes in the
course of the evolution.
Basic Features Of
Arthropods
They exhibit chitinous
exoskeleton, triploblastic
nature and bilateral
symmetry. Their exoskeleton
is made up of cuticle which
covers the entire body. The
limited movement of their
body is made possible by the
division of the cuticle into
separate plate. The arthropod
exoskeleton is secreted by
the underlying layer of
integumentary (covered)
epithelial cells. The cuticle is
made up of two broad
portions, the inner
endocuticle and the outer
epicuticle. The epicuticle is
further divided into an outer
lipid and inner protein layers.
The endocuticle comprises of
successive layers with the
outer part called exocuticle.
This layer appears darker than
the rest layers because of the
possible deposit of protein in
the layer. The other parts are
divided into calcified
(hardened like a bone) and
non-calcified zones.
There is the presence of well
developed metameric coelom
which unlike the annelids
coelom has undergone drastic
reduction in the arthropod.
This coelomic cavity appears
as;
● The gonocoel, which is
the space or cavity of the
gland and itʼs associated
organs is present. In
some arthropod, the
excretory organs may be
involved.
● The heamocoel which are

the other spaces of the

body of arthropod which
do not constitute a true
 coelom. This is a space
filled with the heamolyph.

Arthropods possess open

blood vascular system.
There is a heart of valving
length and position in
differnt arthropods.
The heart has an opening
called the Ostia. This
enables the blood to flow
into the heart from the
surrounding sinus called
pericardium.
There maybe the presence
of the respiratory pigment
such as haemocyanin or
hemoglobin. Several forms of
amoebocytes are present in
the heamolyph.

The digestive part is complete

and divided into the fore, mid,
and hind-gut. The core gut is
associated with different
mouth parts. Generally the
fore-gut is chiefly concerned
with ingestion, trituration and
temporary storage of food.
The modifications of the fore-
gut among the different
groups of arthropods
depends on the diet and
mode of feeding. The surface
area of the mid-gut is
increased by outpocketing or
formation of pouches. The
hind-gut functions in the
reabsorption of water, the
formation and temporary
storage of faeces before
egestion.

Arthropod exhibits high

degree of cephalisation. This
is associated with a pair of
dorsal ganglia over the mouth
and a pair of ventral nerve
cords with a ganglion in each
somite. The sense organs
include antennae, sensory
hairs, eyes, auditor organs
for insects and statocyst for
the crustaceans.

The respiration is carried

out by the gills, teachea,
book lungs and body
surface depending on the
type of arthropod involved.
The excretion is carried out
by coxal or green glands or
by two to many malpighian
tubules joined to the gut.
There is presence of
segmentally arranged
nephridia in a primitive
arthropod called the
peripatus.

The sexes are usually

separate. The fertilization is
always internal in
terrestrial forms but may
be external in aquatic
forms.
They exhibit dimorphism.
They are either oviparous
or viviparous.
Metamorphosis, which is
defined as the mounting
and gradual transformation
(growth) from one stage to
another occurs in
arthropods.

CLASSIFICATION OF
ARTHROPODS

They are classified into

two major parts
– Chelicerata

– Mandibulata

Among the Chelicerata are

those arthropods with
pincer-like mouth parts
called chelicera and they
lack antennae. The
mandibulata are those with
mandible and antennae.

The Chelicerata can be

divided into two classes.
Which are the ARACHNIDA
which include the
scorpions, spiders, ticks
and mites, and the
MERISTOMATA which are
the scorpion-like forms
found in water. The
mandibulata includes the
diplopoda, chilopoda,
crustaceans and insecta.

The principal classes in the

phylum includes

Class: Meristomata
The body of the arthropod
in this class is divided into
two, the prosoma and
opisthosoma. The prosma is
undivided and bears a pair of
chelicerae and five pairs of
limb-like appendages. The
opisthosoma is divided into
mesosoma and metasoma.
They possess lung-books
which is used for
respiratory and coxal
glands which is used for
excretory activities.

Order: Xisphosura
Members of this order
possess broad prosoma and
semi circular caraspace. They
possess three(3) jointed
chelicerae and biramous legs.

The opisthosoma (abdomen)

is made up of six segments of
mesosoma, the vestigial
metasomatic segment and a
long spine-like telson. The
first pairs of mesosomatic
appendages formed the
genital operculum. They are
all marine and produce young
planktonic larva.E.g Liraulus.

Class: Arachnida
They are spiders,
Scorpions, mites and ticks.
The body is divided into
the prosoma and the
abdomen (ophistosoma).
The unsegmented prosoma
(cephalothorax) is usually
covered dorsally by a solid
caraspace while the ventral
surface is provided with one
or more sternal plates. The
abdomen is primitively
segmented and divided into
the pre-abdomen and post-
abdomen. There are presence
of the chelicerae and
pedipalpi at this region. They
respire by means of lung-
books or trachea.

Ticks take blood meal from

their host. This can result in
anaemia and can be
associated with loss of
production, absorption and
reduced milk yield. Tick
toxicosis may occur. When
toxin is introduced into the
blood stream of the host from
the salivary secretion of the
ticks. Ticks can transmits
pathogens like bacteria,
virus, fungi and Protozoa.

Itch mites, Sarcoptes

scabiei causes a skin
disease called scabies,
popularly known as “craw
craw” in west Africa.

Class: Chilopoda
Members of this class are
the centipedes. There are
found in the soil especially in
the humus, beneath the
leaves, stones, barks and logs
of woods. They possess long
body which is dorsally
flattened.
Their respiration is by
trachea and excretion is by
malpighian tubules.

Class: Diplopoda
The diplopoda are
commonly known as the
millipedes. They are
secretive and are found in
dark humid places beneath
leaves, stones, barks, logs
and in the soil. They respire
by trachea.
The activities of some
Arthropods like millipedes
improve the fertility of the soil.
This is achieved by their
feeding activities which
facilitate the decomposition of
the cellulose from plants and
subsequent conversion of
these organic contents of the
decaying plants into humus.
Class: Crustacea
They are primarily aquatic
and a few are found on land.
The body of crustaceans is
divided into cephalothorax
and abdomen. The
cephalothorax bears two pairs
of antennae, mandibles,
maxillae and maxillapods. The
respiratory activity is
carried out by the gills or
the body surface.

Order: Copepoda
These are small crustaceans
which are mostly marine.
Most copepod are pale and
transparent. Many are free
living while some have
parasitic existence. The
parasitic forms are usually
larger. Copepods lack
carapare and compound eye.
The antennules and the
antenna are well developed.
The mandibular palp May be
present or absent. The thorax
has 6 pairs of limbs and the
abdomen lack appendages.
E.g Cylops. Cyclops are
responsible for transmission
of guinea worm infections in
man.

Order: Decapoda
Members of this order
include the pawns,
shrimps, crayfish, crabs
and lobsters. They are
characterized by the
presence of a caraspace with
covers all thoracic segments.
Members of this order are
edible by man.

Class: Insecta
The insects are mainly
terrestrial but some aquatic
species exist. The body is
divided into head thorax
and abdomen. There is
presence of a single pair of
antennae. The thoracic
segments bears 3 pairs of
legs. They posses
mandibles and maxillae
and a pair of labium.
The respiration is by
trachea and excretion is by
mapighian tubules.

Egg—-> larva ——> pupa

—-> Adult(complete)
Egg—-> nymph——> Adult
(incomplete)

The growth of an insect is

interrupted by periodical
moults or ecdyses. There is
the occurrence of an instar
insect stage between two
ecdyses. These activities are
regulated by a number of
hormones. The hormonal
signal comes from the
secretary cell located in the
dorsal part of the brain. The
neurone from the brain
triggers the release of the
activation and ecdysone
hormone found in glands
located in the head and thorax
respectively. The third
hormone is the juvenile
hormone. It ensures that
insect continuous to moult
and remain in the immature
stages without reaching the
adult. The decrease in its
concentration leads to the
profound re-organization of
the larval tissues into pupa
and the pupa into adult stage.

The nymph differs from the

adult in their size. The larval
stages lack compound
eyes
This class can be divided into
two major subclasses.

Subclass: Apterygota
These are primitive and
wingless insects

Order: Thysuaura
They are called the bristle
tail or silver fish insects E.g
Machilis maritiunus

Subclass: Petrygota:
There are winged insects
and sometimes are
secondarily wingless in the
parasitic forms.
Some of the orders include;

Order: Orthoptera

It includes the
grasshoppers, locust and
crickets.
Order: Dicytoptera
This order includes the
Cockroaches and mantids.
The mantids uses their
powerful fore legs which are
used for defence when
threatened.

Order: Isoptera:
They are the termites. They
are social insects polymorphic
and have various castes which
are reproductive ( Queen and
King) and sterile castes
( soldiers and workers)

Order: Sipuncualata
These includes the
sucking lice.
They are obligate
ectoparasites with modified
mouth-parts e.g Pediculis
humanus (human body lice)
and Phthirus tubis (public
lice)

Order: Diptera
These are houseflies tse-
tse flies, mosquitoes, black
flies e.t.c. Which are
commonly considered as the
true flies. They are
characterised by the
presence of the pairs of
wings.

Order: Coleoptera
These are beetles

Order: Odonata
These are the dragons and
damsel flies

Order: Demiptera
These are the bugs such
as plant bugs, stink bugs,
water bugs and bed bugs.

Some beneficial
 effects of insects are;

– Pollination of flowers by
insects hence fruit.
Formation largely depend
on them.
– The production of useful
materials like raw silk by
silkworms, beeswax and
honey
– Insects like grasshopper
and termites and the
honey produced by honey
bees serve as source of
food for human
consumption.
– Some insects act as
predators to other
organisms hence are
useful as biological
control agents to some
pests
– Some insect like
drosophila are useful as
research tools in
 genetics, phase.t.c

The devastating effect of

insects are;

– Many insects like

locusts, grasshoppers,
cockroaches injure farm
produce and house hold
property
– Some affect the comfort
and health of animals
and plants. E.g lice,
bedbugs, and stem
boring caterpillars. Some
insects act as vector to
some pathogens like
viruses, bacteria,
Protozoa and helminths

Vectors. Diseases
Black flies. River
blindness
Mosquitoes Malaria
Elephantiasis
Tse-tse fly. Sleeping
sickness
Sandfly.
Leishmaniasis

BRAIN TEST ( PAST

QUESTIONS)
W. Which of the following is
not a crustacean

a) Shrimp
b) crabs
c) lobster
d) housefly

X. Arthropods with
characteristically fused
head and thorax, which
posses antennae are

a) Arachnida
b) Insecta
c) peripatus
d) crustaceans

\. River blindness is
transmitted by

a) Blackfly
b) whitefly
c) Tabanid flies
d) housefly

]. Sucking lice is——

a) ectoparasites
b) endoparasites
c) commensals
d) Mutualistic