Basic Information About Arthropods
Arthropods are animals without a backbone, with six or more jointed legs, a segmented body and a supporting structure on the outside. Since they are without a backbone or spinal column, they are invertebrates. They also have an exoskeleton which is an external skeleton made out of chitin and is covered with a thick protective layer, or cuticle. Chitin is a tough, polysaccharide (CHNO) that is secreted from the epidermis and forms the main bulk of the arthropods. Arthropods are also cold blooded meaning their body temperature depend on the temperature of the environment surrounding them. Some examples of arthropods are grasshoppers, ants, bees, wasps, cicadas, cockroaches, fleas, butterflies, spiders, scorpions, ticks, centipedes, millipedes, crayfish, lobsters, prawns and slaters.