Invertebrate Animals

Phylum: Arthropoda
For

Second year Students

By
Dr. Hamza Ahmad Elshabaka
Professor of Embryology

Department of Zoology





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Hamzashabaka @ gmail.com

Phylum Arthropoda
General characters:
1-Arthropods display a high degree of metameric
segmentation.
2-The body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen.
In some animals, the head fuses with thorax to form
a tagma called the cephalothorax.
3-In all arthropods, the body is usually covered by an
exoskeleton, or cuticle, that contains chitin.
4-Arthropods periodically undergo molting; the
shedding of the outer cuticular layer.
5-Many arthropods possess compound eyes.
6-The circulatory system of arthropods is open; their
blood flows through cavities between the internal
organs and not through closed vessels.
7-The nervous system is a double chain of segmented
ganglia running along the animals ventral surface.
At the anterior end are three fused pairs of dorsal
ganglia, which constitute the brain.
8-The sexes are mostly separate.
9-Most arthropods have anterior photoreceptors.

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Onychophora
Peripatus
General characters
1-The body is not divided into segments.
2- The body is covered externally by a chitinous cuticle
which is moulted periodically. The colour may be green,
blue, dark grey or black.
3- The head bears a pair of large fleshy preantennae and
a pair of simple eyes.
4- Walking legs are not jointed and each terminating in a
pair of horny claws

Trunk

Head

Preantenna
Trunk appendages

Subphylum: Trilobitomorpha
Trilobite (fossil)

Compound
eye

Head
General characters
1-This subphylum includes extinct arthropods.
2-The trilobites are considered the most primitive
arthropod group.
2- The body was divided into head, trunk and
pygidium.
3- The head was covered dorsally by a carapace.
4- Two longitudinally furrows passed through
the whole body dividing it into three
lobes; median or axial lobe and to lateral
or pleural lobes.

Thorax

Abdomen
(pygidium)

Axial
lobe
Lateral
lobe

Dorsal view

Subphylum: Crustacea
Class1: Malacostraca
Order 1: Decapoda

Penaeus japonicus
(The Prawn)

External features

General characters
1-The body is divided into an anterior cephalothorax
and a posterior abdomen.
2- The cephalothorax is covered by a carapce which extends
anteriorly to form a rostrum.
3- The cephalothorax carries 2 eyes on both sides of rostrum.
4- The abdomen consists of 6 segments and ends by a telson.
5- There are 13 pairs of appendages attached to cephalothorax.
6- The abdomen carries 6 pairs of appendages

Abdominal appendages: 6 pairs

A- Uropods (6th abdominal):

a- Each consists of a protopodite and flattened
exopodite and endopodite.
B- Pleopods (5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd abdominal:
a-The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite and endpodite are large and flattened.
C- Gonopods (1st abdominal):
a-The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is flattened.
c- The endopodite:
- In the female, it is greatly reduced.
- In the male, it is thin folded flap which unites with the
opposite one to form petasma.

pleopod

uropods

male

female

gonopods

Thoracic appendages: 8 pairs

A- Pereiopods (8th, 7th, thoracic):

a-The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is reduced.
c- The endopodite is cylinderical and formed of 5 podomeres.
B- Chelipeds (6th, 5th, and 4th thoracic):
a- The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is reduced.
c- The endopodite is cylindrical, formed of 5 podomeres in
which the last two form a pincer or chela.

cheliped

pereiopod

C- 3rd maxillipeds (3rd thoracic):

a- The protopodite consists of coxopodite
and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is segmented with long bristles.
c- The endopodite is composed of 5 segments.
D- 2nd maxillipeds (2nd thoracic):
a- The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is segmented with long bristles.
c- The endopodite consists of 5 segments and curved inwards.
E- 1st maxillipeds (1st thoracic):
a- The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite
and carries a broad foliaceous epipodite.
b- The exopodite is broad and flattened.
c- The endopodite is filamentous and reduced.
First
maxilliped

Second
maxilliped

Third
maxilliped

Cephalic appendages: 5 pairs

A- 2nd maxillae (5th cephalic):

a-The protopodite consists of coxopodite,
basipodite & a broad epipodite.
b- The exopodite forms with epipodite a flattened
scaphognathite.
c- The enodpodite is filamentous and reduced.
B- 1st maxillae or maxillules (4th cephalic):
a-The protopodite consists of flattened coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is absent.
c- The endopodite is small and segmented.
C- Mandibles (3rd cephalic):
a- The protopodite is heavy and supported with strong teeth.
b- The exopodite is absent.
c- The endopodite forms a 2-segmented mandibular palp.
D- 2nd antennae (2nd cephalic):
a- The protopodite consists of coxopodite and basipodite.
b- The exopodite is abroad plate called squame.
c- The endopodite is filamentous and forms a segmented feeler.
E- 1st antennae or antenules (1st cephalic):
a-The protopodite consists of 3 segments in which the first
segment forms the orbit and the eye-brush arises
on its inner edge.
b-The exopodite and endopodite are short
and segmented.

First
maxilla

Second
maxilla

mandible
First
antenna
Second
antenna

Different systems of Penaeus

Ostia

The heart
The heart lies in the mid-dorsal side of thorax.
It is a small triangular In shape and with 3 pairs
of ostia, two on dorsal and one on the
posterior side.

Dorsal side
Anterior
portion
of ovary

Anterior portion
of testis

The reproductive system

a-The reproductive system consists of 2 testes in the male
and two ovaries in the female.
b- Both testes and ovaries are composed of broad anterior
lobed portions and posterior long narrow ones.

Posterior
portion
of ovary

posterior portion
of testis

Male

Female

The digestive system

The mouth leads to a short oesophagus which opens
in the stomach. The stomach is divided into an anterior
cardiac portion and a narrow pyloric one. The pyloric portion
leads to a short narrow mesentron. Two large lobed digestive
glands lie one on either side of the mesentron. The mesentron
leads to the proctodaeum which opens by the anus opening on the
ventral side of the telson.

Stomach

mesenteron
Digestive
gland

proctodaeum

Cerebral ganglia

Suboesophageal
ganglion
Thoracic ganglia

Abdominal
ganglia

Digestive system

The nervous system

The nervous system consists of pairs of segmental
nerve ganglia joined together by a double nerve cord.
These ganglia include:
a- Cerebral ganglia.
b- Suboesophogeal ganglia.
c- Six free thoracic ganglia.
d- Six free abdominal ganglia.

Nervous system

Procambarus clarkii

Antenna

Cheliped
Cephalothorax
General characters
1- The body is dark red in color.
2- The body is divided into cephalothorax and
abdomen.
3- There are 5 pairs of walking legs, the first of which are
large pincers used for feeding. There are also five pairs of
smaller appendages called swimmerets on the abdomen.
4-The most posterior pair of appendages are called uropods.
Uropods are flat, broad extentions that surround the
telson, which is the last abdominal segment.

Abdomen

Uropod

Dorsal view

Neptunus pelagicus
(The Crab)

cephalothorax
Thoracic
appendages

General characters
1-The body is divided into cephalothorax
and abdomen.The cephalothorax is covered by a
horizontal carapace.
2-The last 5 pairs of thoracic appendages are uniramous.
3-The fourth thoracic appendages, the chelipeds, possess
large chelae.
4-The 5th, 6th and 7th pairs of thoracic appendages are walking
legs & the last pair terminates in broad paddles.
6-The abdomen in the male is narrow, 4 segments with 2
pairs of uniramous appendages. In the female, ithe
abdomen is broad, 6 segments with 4 pairs
of biramous appendages.

8th thoracic appendage

Ventral view (male)

carapace

Dorsal view
cheliped

abdomen
Ventral view (female)

Pagurus tinctor

Left
cheliped

Right
cheliped

(The Hermit Crab)

Thoracic
appendage

Cephalothorax

Shell
General characters
1- The body divided into cephalothorax
and abdomen.
2- The chelipeds (the 4th thoracic appendages)
are asymmetrical as the left chela is much
larger.
4-The abdomen is fleshy and twisted.
5-The abdominal appendages are small and
abscent on the right side.
6- The last pair of abdominal
appendages is hook-like.

Dorsal view
Cephalothorax

Abdomial appendages

6th abdominal
appendage

Thoracic
appendages

Lateral view

Eye

Antenna

Antennule
General characters
1- The body is oval, unsegmented
and with a simple median eye.
2- The body carries three pairs of
appendages. The first pair is uniramous
and the other two pairs are biramous.

Antenna
Mandible
Terminal seta

Nauplius larva
of Penaeus

Dorsal spine

Antenna
General characters
1- The body is divided into
cephalothorax and abdomen.
2- The cephalothorax carries two large
compound stalked eyes, a pair of maxillae,
a pair of maxillipeds and rudiments of five
pairs of thoracic appendages.
3- The abdomen is segmented, ending by a
forked telson and carries 6 pairs of small
appendages.
4- On the dorsal surface of cephalothorax
there is a long dorsal spine.

Thoracic
appendages

Abdomen

Telson

Zoaea larva
of Neptunus

Cephalothorax

Rostrum

Eye

Antenna

General characters
1- The larva resembles
the juvenile prawn.
2- The carapace extends
anteriorly to form rostrum.
3- The thoracic and abdominal
appendages are well
daveloped.

Abdominal
appendages

Abdomen

Thoracic appendages

Uropod
Telson

Mysis larva of Penaeus

Order 2: Isopoda
Ligia sp.

Antenna

Eye
General characters
1- The body is segmented, ovalshaped, dorsoventrally flattened and
divided into head, thorax and abdomen.
2- The head carries 2 sessile eyes, minute
antennules and longer uniramous antennae.
2- The thorax is composed of 8 segments and
the abdomen is formed of 6 segments. The first
thoracic segment is fused with the head. The
carapace is absent.
3- The head carries two sessile eyes, minute
antennules and longer uniramous antennae.
4- Eight pairs of uniramous appendages are
attached to the thoracic segments.
5- Six pairs of appendages are
attached to the abdominal
segments

Head

Thorax

Abdomen
Abdominal
appendage

Dorsal view

Class 2: Branchiopoda
Daphnia sp. (Water-Flea)
General characters
1-The body is oval-shaped with
Head
a posterior dorsal spine and divided
into head and trunk regions.
2-The head extends ventrally to form a
beak-like rostrum and carries a single
median sessile eye, 2 antennules and 2
biramous antennae.
4-The posterior region is limbless,
curved ventrally and ends in
a telson.
Eye
Resting
egg

Trunk

Dorsal spine

Rostrum
Antennule
Antenna

Ephippium

Carapace

Artemia sp.
(The Brine Shrimp)
Antennule
Antenna

Head
Compound eye
Thorax

Thoracic appendages

ovary

Abdomen

Male

General characters
1-The body is composed
of head, thorax and abdomen.
2-The head carries two compound
eyes, a single median eye and 5
pairs of appendages.
3-The thorax is formed of 12 segments
and carries 11 pairs of leaf-like
appendages.
4-The abdomen is formed of 6
limblesss segments and a
telson with two rami.

Caudal rami

Female

Class 3: Ostracoda
Cypris sp.
Median eye

Adductor muscle

Carapace
(2 valves)

General characters
Antennule
1-The body is small and indistinctly
segmented.
2-The carapace is formed of 2 valves.
3-There are about 7 pairs of appendages;
antenules, antennae, mandibles, maxillules,
maxillae and 2 pairs of trunk limbs.
4- A median eye is located at the base of the
antennae.
5-The trunk ends with two caudal
rami.
Antenna

Trunk appendages

Class 4: Copepoda

Caudal rami

Cyclops sp.
Geniculate
antennule

Antennule

Antenna

Cephalothorax
Antenna

Swimming
appendages

Abdomen

Male

General characters
1-The body is divided into
cephalothorax (head fused
with 2 thoracic segments), 5 free
thoracic segments & 3 narrow
abdominal segments.
2-There are 6 pairs of thoracic
appendages The first pair are
maxillpeds, the 2nd 5th are biramous
swimmin limbs while the 6th pair is
uniramous and reduced.
3-The abdomen ends with a
telson carrying two
Caudal rami
caudal rami.

Egg-sac
Abdomen

Female

Class 5: Cirripedia
Lepas sp.
(The Goose Barnacle)
General characters
1-The body is formed of a preoral
peduncle and a laterally compressed capitulum
2-The capitulum is enclosed by 5 calcareous plates;
a median dorsal carina, a large anterior sculum and
a posterior tergum.
3-The head carries a thick labrum, 2 mandibles, 2
maxilules and 2 maxillae.
4-The thorax consists of 6 indistinct
segments hich carry 6 pairs of appendages.
5-The abdomen is small and limbless
and ends with 2 rami.

tergum

carina

scutum
capitulum
peduncle

Balanus sp.
(The Rock Barnacle)
General characters
1- Small sessile marine
animal.
2-The body is enclosed completely
by 6 calcareous plates; carina,
rostrum and 4 lateral plates.
3-The upper part is roofed by a pair
of scute and a pair of terga.

Lateral view
Carina

Rostrum

Lateral plates

Terga
Scuta

Lateral and upper views

Sacculina
General characters
1- It is a parasitic cirripede which infests crabs
between abdomen and cephalothorax.
2-The body is a simple flattened sac attached by a
short peduncle to the ventral surface of the crabs
abdomen.
3-Sacculina shows no segmentation or
appendages.

Sacculina

Ventral surface of the crab

Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class 1: Merostoma
Subclass: Xiphosura

Limulus polyphemus

chelicera
General characters
Walking legs

1- The prosoma has an unsegmented

carapace.
2- The opisthosma is divided into anterior
mesosoma of 6 segments and a posterior
metasoma of 3 fused segments and a telson.
3-The horseshoe-shaped carapace of prosoma
bears a pair of lateral compound eyes and a pair
of anterior median ocelli.
4- Limulus possesses three jointed chelate
chelcera followed by 5 pairs of appendages
all of which are chelate except the fifth
which bears terminal spines.

Mesosoma

metasoma

Caudal cpine

Ventral view

prosoma

opisthosoma

Lateral eye

carapace

Dorsolateral view

Class 2: Arachnida

Median eyes

pedipalp

Order 1: Scorpionida

Buthus quinquestriatus
(The Scorpion)
prosoma
General characters
1- The body is divided into an anterior
prosoma (cephalothorax) and opisthosoma
which is divided into a broad mesosoma of 6
segments and a metasoma of 6 cylindrical segments.
2- The last segment of metasoma ends with the
telson in the form of a vesicle with a sting.
3- The prosoma carries a pair of median eyes and
6 pairs of appendages; one pair of chlicerae,
one pair of pedipalps and 4 pairs of
walking legs.

mesosoma

Metasoma

sting

Dorsal view

pecyen

stigmata

Chelicera
Respiratory lamellae

Anus

Air chamber

Ventral view

L.S. of lung book

Order 2: Pseudoscorpionida
Chelifer sp.
Pedipalp
Chelicera

General characters
1-The color of the body can be yellowish-tan
to dark-brown.
Prosoma
2- The body is composed of an anterior prosoma and a
posterior opisthosoma.
3- The prosoma is covered by a carapace and contains two
pairs of lateral eyes, 2 chelicerea, 2 large chelated
pedipalps and four pairs of walking legs.
4- The opisthosoma consists of12 broad flat
segments.

Walking legs

Opithosoma

Order 3:Solifuga

Galeodes arabs

Dorsal view

(The Sun Spider)

pedipalp
chelicera

prosoma

General characters
1- The body is divided into an anterior
prosoma and a posterior opisthosoma.
2- The prosoma consists of an anterior unsegmented
portion and two posterior segments.
3- The prosoma carries 2 eyes, 6 pairs of appendages;
one pair of chelicerae, one pair of pedipalps and four
pars of walking legs.
4- The large oval-shaped opisthosoma consists
of 10 segments.The first segment is
constricted to form a junction
with prosoma.

Walking
legs

opisthosoma

Dorsal view

Order 4: Araneida

Lycosa ferox
(The Wolf Spider)

Pedipalp

General characters
1- The body is divided into 2
unsegmented portions; the prosoma and
the opisthosoma which are connected together
by a narrow waist.
2- The prosoma carries 6 pairs of appendages; one
pair of chelicerae, one pair of pedipalps and 4
pairs of walking legs.
3- The opisthosoma is soft and covered
with hairs.

chelicera
prosoma

Waist

Walking
legs

opisthosoma
Palpal
organ

Pedipalp of male

Dorsal view

Order 5: Acarina
Argas persicus
(The Soft Tick)
Walking legs
General characters
1- The body is oval-shaped and
dorsoventrally flattened.
2- The prosoma and opisthosoma are fused.
3- The capitulum is a prolongation of prosoma
which carries one pair of pedipalps and a median
proboscis. It arises on the ventral side and does
not project in front of the anterior body margin.
4- Argas possesses 4 pairs of walking legs
each ends in two claws and an adhesive
pad.

Genital opening
Anus

Capitulum

Rhipicephalus sanguineus
(The Hard Tick)
Chelicera

Capitulum

Pedipalp
Basis capitum

Walking legs

Anus

Capitulum

Adanal shield

General characters
1- The body is oval and the
capitulum is terminal and
projects anteriorly in front of the
body.
2- The animal possesses 4 pairs of
clawed walking legs.
3-Two eyes are found, one on
eithe side of the scutum.
Pedipalp

Male
Ventral view
Chelicera

Basis
capitulum
Scutum

Walking legs

Anus

Larval stage

Female
Dorsal view

Capitulum

Class: Pycnogonida
Pycnogonum sp.
(Sea spider)
Appendages
General characters
1- These are marine spider-like
arthropods.
2-The body consists of cephalothorax and a
rudimentary abdomen.
3- The cephalothorax bears 4 pairs of short,
heavy appendages.
4- The rudimentary abdomen is devoid of
appendages.
5- Sexes are separate.

Cephalothorax
Abdomen

Dorsal view

Tergum

Subphylum: Uniramia
Class: Diplopoda
Julus terrestris
(The Wire Worm)
Sternum

abdomen

Walking legs
Claws

Isolated abdominal
segment

head

thorax

General characters
1- The body is cylindrical, blackish
brown in colour and is divided into head,
thorax and abdomen.
2- The head is small, covered dorsally by a cephalic
shield and carries 2 antennae and 2 clumps of ocelli.
3- The thorax consists of 4 segments each carrying a
pair of appendages.
4- The abdomen is formed of a large number of double
segments and each segment carries 2 pairs of
walking legs.
5- The last abdominal segment ends
with a terminal spine.

Lateral view

Class: Chilopoda
Scolopendra morsitans

Antenna
Head

Claw

Walking legs

Mandible

Trunk

General characters
1- The body is elongated , dorsoventrally
flattened and divided into head and trunk regions.
2-The head is covered dorsally by a cephalic shield
and possesses two antennae.
3-The trunk carries 21 pairs of walking legs and the last
pair is longer and extends backward.
4- There are two groups of eyes on the head close to
the bases of the antennae.

Dorsal view

Ventral view