Since there are so many diverse insects and spiders on the planet, and scientist know they have not all been discovered, many people believe there are thousands that are not yet classified, and the entire class holds many millions of animals. Estimates place arthropods at about 80% of all known animals on Earth (Tatner). Within these four classes, the animals are broken down even further into numerous sub-classes.
Probably the most interesting thing about arthropoda is how diverse they are. They can live on land, underneath the ocean, and it the hottest deserts, and some even survive in the subzero temperatures of Antarctica. Some live in trees, some live on the ground, and some live underground. Their hard outer shell helps them survive, but so do their sensory organs, like their eyes and sense of smell. Some of them, like bees and flies, do not seem to be the same as beetles and spiders, but if you look closely, even these animals have the characteristics of arthropods. They have numerous legs, they have segmented bodies, and even they are covered with an exoskeleton, even though it is not as obvious as on other animals, such as beetles, crabs, and scorpions.
These animals are extremely important to the ecological balance of the planet. One reason is because they have adapted to live in so many different areas of the world. Another is because they feed on other insects, on just about anything in fact. They feed on vegetation, on each other (like spiders who eat flies), and on garbage and other debris, so they help keep down other insect populations, they clean up garbage, and they serve as food to other animals, fish, and birds. Many of them also pollinate plants and food crops (Ramel). Without...
Some of them are even important economic products to some areas of the world. Crabs and lobsters are some of the most popular seafood in the world, and so are shrimp. These are all members of this family. Many of these animals are poisonous to each other and some to humans. Many people are afraid of these animals and kill them when they come across them, but this study shows that these animals are important and valuable members of the world, and they serve a valuable purpose.
In conclusion, these members of the animal kingdom are some of the most diverse and interesting. They are the largest group of animals on Earth, and they help keep Earth's natural balance equal and safe for all. They are an important and valuable part of life on this planet, and just about everyone in the world encounters some of this phylum each and every day.
References
Author not Available. "Phylum Arthropoda." Sidwell Friends School. 2000. 15 Oct. 2004. http://www.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb5/Labs/Classification_Lab/Eukarya/Animalia/Arthropoda/
Myers, Phil. "Arthropoda." Animal Diversity Web. 2004. 15 Oct. 2004. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Arthropoda.html
Ramel, G. "The Phylum Arthropoda." Earthlife.net. 10 Oct. 2004. 15 Oct. 2004. http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/arthropoda.html
Tatner, Dr. Paul. "Arthropoda Introduction." 2004. 15 Oct. 2004. http://www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/courses/Tatner/biomedia/units/arth1.htm
Waggoner, Ben. " Introduction to the Arthropoda." University of California - Berkeley. 1994. 15 Oct. 2004. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/arthropoda.html
