Anything with jointed legs and an exoskeleton made of chitin.
First group to fly
More species than any other phylum
Digestive tract with 2 openings
Characteristics of Arthropods
(Click the link and explore the characteristics of this Phylum)
Arthropods are a crucial part of the human diet in many countries. Humans eat insects, crustaceans and other arthropods as a source of protein.
Watch the video about insects and people:
Arthropods and Molting
Arthropods’ rigid exoskeletons provide protection and the basic building material for an arsenal of tool-like appendages. But the exoskeleton also has its downside. Since the exoskeleton is hard and its outer layer is non-living, it cannot grow bigger by small increments as the human skeleton does. Instead, arthropods must go through the delicate process of shedding the old exoskeleton and expanding to a larger size before the new exoskeleton hardens. This process is known as molting.
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