Arthropods include more species than any other phylum of animals.

They
occur in almost every habitat on Earth and usually are considered to be the most
successful group of animals because of their vast numbers. Major characteristics
of arthropods are (1) a segmented body divided into either cephalothorax and
abdomen, or head, thorax, and abdomen; (2) jointed appendages; (3) an
exoskeleton of chitin; (4) simple or compound eyes; and (5) an open circulatory
system. Table 15.3 lists the characteristics of the major classes (Gunstream, 2012:
202).
Phylum Arthropoda, the most biologically successful group of animals,
includes more than 1 million species, and biologists predict millions more will be
identifi ed. More than 80% of all known animals are arthropods! They are more
diverse and live in a greater range of habitats than do the members of any other
animal phylum. The following adaptations have greatly contributed to their
success: 1. The arthropod body, like that of the annelid, is segmented.
Segmentation is important from an evolutionary perspective because it provides
the opportunity for specialization of body regions. In arthropods, groups of
segments are specialized, by virtue of their shape, muscles, or the appendages they
bear, to perform particular functions. 2. A hard exoskeleton, composed of chitin
and protein, covers the entire body and appendages. The exoskeleton serves as a
coat of armor that protects against predators and helps prevent excessive loss of
moisture. (Solomon, 2008: 655).
Copepods belong to phylum Arthropoda (ar THRAH puh duh). Between
70 and 85 percent of all named animal species are arthropods (AR thruh pahdz).
As shown in Figure 26.1, the majority of arthropods are insects, which includes
beetles, butterflies, moths, flies, bees, and wasps. Find arthropods on the
evolutionary tree shown in Figure 26.1. Follow the branches and you will see that,
like annelids, arthropods are segmented invertebrates with bilateral symmetry,
coelomate body cavities, and protostome development. Unlike annelids,
arthropods have exoskeletons with jointed appendages that enable them to move
in complex ways. All three of these features—segmentation, exoskeletons, and
jointed appendages—are important keys to their success (Biggs, 2008: 762).
The freshwater crayfish is a common crustacean that exhibits the basic
characteristics of arthropods. Examine its external structure in Figure 15.7. Most
of the exoskeleton is hardened by the accumulation of mineral salts. It provides
protection for the soft underlying body parts, and it is flexible at the joints for easy
movement of the appendages. The exoskeleton is shed periodically by molting to
allow for growth of the crayfish.
The segmented body is divided into a cephalothorax and abdomen. Each body segment
has a pair of jointed appendages, and most have been modified for special functions.
Mouthparts are modified for feeding, and the two pairs of antennae contain numerous
sensory receptors. The first three pairs of walking legs have pincers for grasping, and the
first pair of these, the chelipeds, are used for offensive and defensive purposes. The
swimmerets are relatively unmodified appendages on the abdominal segments. In
females, they serve as sites of attachment for fertile eggs, and in males, the first two
pairs are modified for sperm transport. The uropods are the last pair of appendages.
Along with the telson, the uropods form a “paddle” used in swimming. The compound
eyes are formed of many individual photosensory units and occur in only certain groups
of arthropods (Gunstream, 2012: 202).