Arthropods - An Introduction

Introduction to the most successful animals on Earth, the arthropods. May be used for Junior or Senior High School

1. The Most Successful Animals on EarthThe Most Successful Animals on Earth

2. V
A
R
I
E
T
Y

3. Hermit Crab
Fairy Shrimp
Centipede
Horseshoe
Crab

5. Size
What Is Different about Each of These
Animals?
Color
Shape
Method of Movement

6. What Do These Animals Have In Common?
Jointed Legs
Exoskeleton
Segmented Body
Distinct Head
Compound Eyes
(most cases)

7. Centipedes, Millipedes, Sow Bugs, Pill Bugs
Myriapods

8. Crustaceans
Crayfish, Lobsters, Crabs, Shrimp

9. Mouthparts modified into
pincers or fangs
Head, Cephalothorax,
(Thorax & Abdomen
fused together)
6 – 8 Pairs Simple Eyes
4 Pairs (8) Walking Legs
Some have Stingers
Carnivores
Terrestrial

10. SPINNERETS

11. Scientists at NASA wondered what happens when you get
a spider stoned.
The experiments show that common house spiders spin
their webs in different ways according to the psychotropic
drug they have been given.

They discovered the more toxic the chemical, the more
deformed was the web.

12. Spiders on marijuana
started spinning webs but
appeared to lose
concentration about half-
way through.

13. Those on Benzedrine -
"speed" - spin their webs
"with gusto, but without
much planning leaving
large holes”.

14. Caffeine makes spiders
incapable of spinning
anything better than a few
threads strung together at
random.

15. On chloral hydrate, an
ingredient of sleeping pills,
spiders "drop off before
they even get started".

16. Most Numerous of All Animals
Has A Three Part Body Plan
Head, Thorax, Abdomen
Life Cycle is Metamorphosis –
Complete & Incomplete
First Animals to Fly – Most Adults Do Fly
Divided Into Many Orders

17. ORDERS

18. COLEPTERA – Beetles, Weevils (Shield Wing)

19. DIPTERA – Flies, Mosquitoes ( 2 Wings)

20. LEPIDOPTERA – Butterflies, Moths (Scaled Wing)

21. COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS

22. HYMENOPTERA– Bees, Wasps, Ants (Membrane Wings)

23. ORTHOPTERA – Grasshoppers, Crickets (Leather Wings)

25. HEMIPTERA – True Bugs (Half Wings)

27. Catherine Patterson
Santa Rita High School - 2007