What are the Key Characteristics of Arthropods?

Some examples of arthropods-- invertebrates with jointed legs-- include the monarch butterfly, emperor scorpion, lobsters and spiders, according to Sea World. The scientific name for arthropods is arthropoda. According to a University of California at Berkeley website, arthropods make up more than three-fourths of all living organisms, and more than one million documented species of arthropods currently exist. Scientists discover thousands of new arthropod species every year, according to Globio.

  1. Exoskeleton

    • All arthropods have an exoskeleton, according to the Ontario North East District School Board. Exoskeletons cover the entire body of arthropods and are either extremely hard, or thin and flexible. Exoskeletons are constructed from a material called chitin and have three functions including protection, locomotion and support. In some arthropods such as desert beetles, the exoskeleton also prevents the beetle from drying out. Exoskeletons provide support for muscles and organs. In arthropods such as shrimp, muscles work with the exoskeleton to provide a means for transportation. Arthropods shed their exoskeleton as they grow and must develop a new one, according to Globio.

    Segmentation

    • Arthropods have a segmented body, according to the Ontario North East District School Board. The three segments of arthropods include the head, the thorax and the abdomen, according to Globio. The thorax region of their body is attached to the legs and wings of arthropods. The abdomen of arthropods is located between the chest and hips.

    Jointed Legs

    • Jointed legs are one of the main characteristics of arthropods, according to the Ontario North East District School Board. This is a major advantage because it allows arthropods like centipedes to move faster than other organisms. Insects have six legs and are the only arthropods capable of flight. Some insects can travel as fast as 64 kilometers per hour. Spiders have eight legs and live on land and in fresh water.

    Development

    • The majority of arthropods begin as eggs, turn into larvae and metamorphosize into adults, according to Globio. Eggs develop inside female arthropods before being laid and hatching into larvae. Arthropods carry out internal fertilization, according to Jrank.org. Some arthropods like insects have an additional life-cycle stage between becoming an adult from a larvae, which is known as the pupa stage. Monarch butterflies are one example of an arthropod that metamorphosizes from a larvae to an adult butterfly.