Arthropods

Animals with jointed appendages

General Characteristics of Arthropods

Most successful phylum of animals

jointed appendages Exoskeleton

exoskeleton protein + chitin molting

two marine groups: chelicerates mandibulates

Crabzilla a 100 year old crab Living in an England Aquarium

Horseshoe crab North Shore,LI

CheliceratesChelicerataHorseshoe crabs

shallow coastal waters cephalothorax, abdomen,

telson Six pairs of appendages

Horseshoe crabs on Long Island

Can be found on the

North shore on/in the sound

Late May they mate at night

Near the shore.

Sexually mature around 8-10 years of age.

This is a problem because they are overharvested for bait.

Horseshoe crabs as pets?????

CheliceratesSea spiders

common in polar seas 8-16 walking legs male carries eggs feed on invertebrates

with their proboscis Not true spiders http://www.youtube.c

om/watch?v=cQOS_mBlbms&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Ahhhhhhhh

Sea Spiders: Science Fiction based on oceans marine life.

http://www.popscreen.com/v/6pa1m/Prometheus-Giant-Facehugger-Scene-Cuddles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuapyExYJBI&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

MandibulatesHave MandiblesMandibulates include

crustaceans Examples: decapods, krill,

copepods, amphipods, barnacles, mantis shrimp, lobsters

head, thorax, abdomenwalking legs and swimmerettesgas exchange through body

surface or gillsmolting decreases as animal ages

Krill

Blue crab

Lobster

Copepod

Barnacles

Fairy Shrimp

Mantis Shrimp

Amphipod

Decapods: “ten feet”

Crabs, lobsters, true shrimp5 pair of walking legs, first

pair are chilipeds (pinchers)range in size up to 4 meters

(giant spider crab)behavioral adaptations

hermit crabs blue crabs

Mantis ShrimpPredators of fish, crabs, shrimp, molluscstropical seas up to North Atlanticrocks or coral crevices or in burrowssecond pair of appendages is enlarged with a movable

finger, punch their prey with over 50 mph hits.

Krill

Krill averages only about two inches in length, but it represents a giant-sized link in the global food chain.

They are the fuel that runs the engine of the Earth’s marine ecosystems.

Krill feed on phytoplankton, that drift near the ocean’s surface and live off carbon dioxide and sun’s rays. They in turn are the main staple in the diets of hundreds of animals, from fish, to birds, to baleen whales. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Runa3neb0&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Amphipods3 posterior pairs of appendages

turned backward;look like shrimp.

beach fleas are terrestrial but retained gills, so must stay in moist sediments.

Important for the food chain

Copepods

Most abundant members of zooplankton;

important food sourcevertical daily migrationsuspension feeders

primarily, some are carnivorous and some have wives that are computers

Ohhhh Barnacles

Sessile (do not move) exoskeleton of calcium carbonate cirripeds stick out of shell to

filter feed larvae with compound eyes and

carapace of two shell plates. When larvae settles, it adheres and metamorphoses into an adult. Barnacle with legs out feeding

Can you name that Long Island Arthropod?

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Giant spiny lobster

Lobster decline in NYS Fisheries. Why?