How can you tell if an animal is and arthropod?

The distinguishing feature of arthropods is the presence of a jointed skeletal covering composed of chitin (a complex sugar) bound to protein. This nonliving exoskeleton is secreted by the underlying epidermis (which corresponds to the skin of other animals).

1. What are the characteristics of arthropods?
2. How do scientists classify arthropods?
3. Which animal is not an arthropod?

What are the characteristics of arthropods?

All arthropods posses an exoskeleton, bi-lateral symmetry, jointed appendages, segmented bodies, and specialized appendages. The major arthropod classes can be separated by comparing their number of body regions, legs, and antennae.

How do scientists classify arthropods?

Arthropods are traditionally divided into 5 subphyla: Trilobitomorpha (Trilobites), Chelicerata, Crustacea, Myriapoda, and Hexapoda. Myriapoda is divided into four classes: Chilopoda (centipedes), Diplopoda (millipedes), Pauropoda, and Symphyla. Millipedes were likely the very first animals to live on land.

Which animal is not an arthropod?

The Department of Non-Arthropod Invertebrates of the museum contains close to 100,000 specimens of a huge diversity of biological types of highly diverse evolutionary origins: sponges, coral, molluscs, worms of all kinds, starfish, jellyfish, sea urchins and others.