Arthropoda is a phylum of invertebrates that includes the insects and spiders, the sea spiders and the crustaceans, amongst others. It is the largest animal phylum with the estimates of the number of arthropod species varying from 1 million to 5 to 10 million and accounting for over 80 % of all known living animal species.
All arthropods have jointed limbs – their name comes from the Greek arthron, the joint, and podos, the foot – and a segmented body that is covered by a hard, jointed, external skeleton made of chitin. In some cases, this exoskeleton is even further strengthened with calcium carbonate.
Because the exoskeleton cannot expand, arthropods periodically shed the exoskeleton in a process called ‘moulting’ and can then rapidly grow. The cast-off skeleton is a remarkably faithful replica of the living animal. Immediately after moulting, arthropods are soft and helpless until a new skeleton is deposited and hardens.
While insects and spiders are abundant on land, they are scarcely represented in the sea. Crustaceans are by far the most diverse group of arthropods found in the oceans, and include the well-known crabs, shrimps and lobsters.
Species Gallery
F*CK FISH 