Lecture 7

PHYLUM ARTHROPODA –MOULTING

THE CRUSTACEA
Phylum- Arthropoda
PLAN:
Introduction
Similarities to Annelids
List of general characteristics
Exoskeleton: How movement is achieved; how growth is achieved
Arthropod groups:
Crustacea (crayfish, lobster, crabs) AQUATIC
Chelicerata (spiders, scorpions, king crab) MIXED
Uniramia (insects, millipedes, centipedes) TERRESTRIAL
THE ARTHROPODS.
Greek meaning (arthron- joint, podus- foot”).
3.7 million species (84% od all).
Most successful in animal kingdom based on:
Numbers (Abundance)
Number of species (Diversity)
Adaptations to live in different habitats- Adaptive radiation.
Class with greatest diversity (Insecta).

Class with greatest abundance

(Copepoda).

Tremendous adaptive radiation (wide

geographic range: land, sea, freshwater, sky

Diagrams of arthropod life-

form variety.
 Similar to annelids & thought to be derived from them as:
1) Metamerism evident in embryo.
(segmental arrangement inside and outside)

1) Each segment has a pair of appendages.

(parapodia in polychaetes/ setae in earthworms)

1) Similar nervous system- dorsal brain, paired ventral nerve cord &
segmental ganglia.
2) Similar embryonic development.
3) Similar phylogeny
(protostomes, bilateral, eucoelomate, etc.)
Mollusks

Annelids
Mollusks

Complete
Gut

2 layers,
acoelomate

2 layers

Phylogenetic tree
 GENERAL ARTHROPOD
CHARACTERISTICS- LIST
 Major features
1. Chitinous exoskeleton- cuticle.
2. Jointed appendages
3. Segmented body- Tagmata- head, thorax abdomen.
4. Increased cephalization
5. Complex muscular system
6. Locomotion
7. Cilia absent- on external surface
Tagmatization- functional groups of segments: head, thorax,
abdomen.
Features cont’d

8. Reduced coelom
9. Complete digestive system
10. Open circulatory system
11. More efficient respiration- gills, trachea, book lungs
12. Paired excretory glands- coxal or antennal
13. Nervous system similar to annelids
with advanced sensory perception.
14. Separate sexes: Oviparous/Viviparous/Parthenogenetic

15. Advanced behaviour patterns

1. EXOSKELETON (CUTICLE).

 Chitinous; covers the entire body.

• What is Chitin?
- nitrogenous polysaccharide
- long chain polymer of
n-acetylglucosamine units.
- resistant to alkalis and weak acids, insoluble.

 Highly protective & comparatively rigid cuticle encases the arthropod.

 Exoskeleton- Cross section of arthropod

Exoskeleton- (in cross-section) is

comprised of 4 primary plates:
- a dorsal tergum
- 2 lateral pleura
- a ventral sternum
- tubular appendages

Cross-sectional view of an
arthropod segment.
 2. Jointed Appendages-
Problem of efficient movement
Rigid structure-

Articular membrane (thin & flexible).

Articular condyle & sockets in some.

Apodemes present

Diagram of arthropod
articular membrane.
 Apodeme

- Attachment of
muscles

Epidermis = Hypodermis
 Problem of Growth
Hard non living cuticle restricts growth
Chitin and tanned protein
No cells
Modest growth possible at joints where cuticle is folded.
Real growth- achieved by MOULTING.
Fine structure of arthropod cuticle:
1) Thin outer epicuticle
2) Thicker procuticle. Divisible
into:
- Exocuticle (tanned &
sclerotised (hardened) with
phenols)
- Endocuticle (untanned).
MOULTING-What is it?
•In many arthropods- procuticle also impregnated with mineral salts.
CaCO3 & CaPO4 deposition occur in procuticle in the Crustacea.

Only periodic shedding of exoskeleton effects significant growth.

Process called moulting and ecdysis – TO CHANGE; STRIP OFF; SHED

 Moulting and Ecdysis
Step 1. Space created between hypodermis and cuticle.
Step 2. New epicuticle secreted by the hypodermis.

Step 3. Hypodermis then secretes enzymes: chitinases and proteases.

Enzymes pass through the new epicuticle and dissolve away the old
untanned endocuticle.
Moulting continued.
The hypodermis then secretes a new procuticle.
This is undifferentiated and untanned- soft and wrinkled.

Old exoskeleton splits along predetermined lines- animal emerges.

Stretch exoskeleton by taking in air or water- large size created for growth.
Problem: increased vulnerability, wasteful.
Ecdysis
Arthropod growth
Tutorial topic # 6
Describe the fine structure of the arthropod cuticle and explain the changes that occur during
moulting.
Arthropod groups
Crustacea – 10 extant classes- Aquatic

Chelicerata – 3 extant classes- Aquatic & Terrestrial.

Uniramia – 5 extant classes- Terrestrial

(Myriapods and Insects)
Trilobitomorpha – Fossils (all extinct)
 CRUSTACEA:
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

INSECTA:
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS & SUCCESS
PLAN-
Crustacean features
Crustacea (Sub- phylum or phylum in some books).
External features and appendages
Digestive system
Circulatory system
Respiratory system
Excretory system
Nervous system and Sense Organs
Reproductive system

Crustacean Classes- + demonstration.

Phylum Crustacea- 30,000 – 75,000 spp.
-Ostracods, water fleas, copepods, barnacles
shrimps, crayfish & crabs.- Primarily aquatic
 EXTERNAL FEATURES, BODY WALL &
COELOM
2 pairs of antennae- distinctive .
Tagmatization- 2 tagmata (cephalothorax & abdomen)
Head- 5 segments, Thorax – 8, Abdomen 5/6- each with 1 pr.
of appendages).
 Biramous appendages.
Modified for crawling , food handling, etc. (practical).

COXA
EPIPODITE = GILL
BASIS

EXOPODITE

ENDOPODITE

Diagram of a crustacean
biramous appendage.
Appendages hinged ventrally under the body
 2. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Nutrition: herbivores, carnivores, scavengers, parasites.
Ventral mouth.

Simple oesophagus opens out into large area

•Stomach- Opposing chitinous ridges – gastric mill
Cardiac stomach/Gastric mill (calcareous ossicles- grind).
Pyloric stomach- sorting and straining
Filter controls what enters the digestive glands.

(Filter)
Midgut- Digestive glands
•1 or more pairs of ceca or caeca (blind ending sac or branch).

•Digestive enzymes.

•Absorption occurs in midgut walls.

•Has cells for storage of digestion products: glycogen, fat & calcium.
Hindgut
Water re-absorption.
3. BLOOD & CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM

- Some members < 1 mm long so no

need for a circulatory system.

- Dorsal heart- shows evolutionary

position.

- Tubular- primitive
 Circulatory system
Open B. V. system.

Blood leaves heart via arteries & circulates through haemocoel (therefore
open).

In some large crustacea- capillary beds present esp. associated with gills.

Blood returns to heart via OSTIA (holes).

 Circulatory system in the crayfish

OSTIA
 4. Respiratory system-
external gills
Larger & more active animals with
impervious skin.- Many have gills.

Gills in branchial chamber attached

to legs- ventilation

Oxygen transportation either in

solution or bound to respiratory
pigments-
Water flow associated with the
crustacean gill- laboratory work.
Blood- haemocyanin, hamoglobin
(rarely) or no pigment.
External Gills

Gills in Branchial / Gill

chamber

Gill
chamber
5. EXCRETION
Maxillary or antennal or coxal glands found in head.
Called Green gland in crayfish / Antennal gland.
Excretory pore on base of a limb.

Green gland
“Nephridium-like”
Components of gland
•End sac & tubule
•Tubule may form a labyrinth (green
gland)
Excrete ammonia (mainly)
Diagram of Astacus sp.
•Urea & uric acid (some)
showing green gland (dorsal &
lateral views respectively)
6. NERVOUS SYSTEM
 Brain

• Found in front of gastric mill.

• Double ventral cord with segmental ganglia.
 Most advanced- longitudinal fusion- nerve mass
surrounding the gut.
Sense organs-
•Well developed
•Simple & compound eyes- may be stalked or sessile.
•Chemoreceptors
•Tactile receptors.
•Statocysts
•Mechanorecetors
Compound eyes consist of ommatidia
•Few dozen to 10,000 ommatidia.
•Detect brief movements or flickers.
•Have wide visual field- stalked- increased angle of vision.
•Crude image
 7. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 Gonad above gut but below the heart- shed gametes via
gonoduct- vas deferens.
 Various reproductive styles:
Many larval stages- Nauplius is first.
Usually separate sexes (1 class has
hermaphrodites).

Brood eggs

Tutorial Questions 11 & 12

CRUSTACEAN NAUPLIUS
 SUB-PHYLUM CHELICERATA
 75,000 spp.
 General features
1. Body divided into 2 tagmata:
- anterior cephalothorax (prosoma).
- posterior (opisthosoma).

2. Chelicerae (1st pair of appendages).

• chewing, seizing prey, piercing.

3. Pedipalps (2nd pair of appendages).

4. 8 walking legs on prosoma- 4 prs.
5. Much reduced (or no) appendages on opisthosoma.
6. Antennae & mandibles absent.
7. Appendages usually uniramous.
3 classes:
i. Merostomata - horseshoe crabs- sea.
ii. Pycnogonida - sea spiders.
iii. Arachnida - spiders, scorpions, ticks &
mites.
Terrestrial Life
The ability to resist drying- impermeable integument-
Wax.
Nitrogenous waste produced as urea or uric acid- less
toxic than ammonia.
Obtain oxygen directly from air- Tracheal system.
Adjust for loss of buoyancy by strengthening muscles
and skeletal components.
Modified sensory receptors- air-borne
Internal fertilization.
Viviparity or eggs that retain water.
Young emerge capable of terrestrial life- prolonged
development- larval stages.
Sub P. Chelicerata
CLASS ARACHNIDA

73,000 spp.(1996)

2nd largest arthropod group- most feared.

Primarily terrestrial, waxy cuticle prevents water loss.

ARACHNID FEATURES- External features

Chelicerate body with 2 tagmata (3 different forms).
1. Scorpion body form
Most primitive; prosoma (cephalothorax) & opisthosoma
(abdomen) segmented.
2. Spider
Prosoma segmented; abdomen un-segmented
Pedicel- 7th segment- reduced to narrow stalk.
3. Mite/Tick – entire body un-segmented
Segmentation seems to be a feature of primitive members.

Prosoma

Opisthosoma
Common appendages to all arachnids
•Pair of chelicerae
•Pair of pedipalps
•4 prs of walking legs on prosome
•Apodous (no appendages) opisthosome.

NUTRITION
•Mostly carnivorous
•No real jaws (mandibles)
•Predigest prey tissue- enzymes
•Liquid food sucked into mouth- pharynx
•Midgut
- numerous diverticula (branches)- the walls of which contain absorptive
cells.

CIRCULATION & RESPIRATION.

•7 prs of ostia, some reduced.
•Book lungs &/or tracheae (15-20).
Book lung
•Gas exchange occurs between blood circulating within
lamellae & air from outside.
Trachea
- cuticlelined
tubules ramifying
the tissue.

- open externally;
end in haemocoel &
body cavity.
EXCRETION
•Coxal glands & malpighian tubules.
•Never more than 4 prs in each individual.
•Malpighian tubules (midgut & hindgut)
- collect waste & pass into hindgut.
•Nephrocytes

NERVOUS SYSTEM
•Similar to crustaceans
•More concentrated in spiders
 Sense Organs
1) Eyes
• never compound but have cornea &
lens.
• direct or indirect.
• 1 or more pairs.

2) Slit organs & sensory hairs

• detect movement in exoskeleton.

• responds to vibrations.
 Tricobothria
Sense organs

Sensory
Hairs
Hollow hairs

Slit
sense
organ

Pores
 REPRODUCTION
• Separate sexes
• Most have indirect sperm transfer, few copulate.
• Spermatophores deposited on ground.
• Postnatal care common.
 Arachnid Orders- distinctive
features
 3 orders of arachnids- important features of each

1. Scorpiones
• Most primitive
• Stinging apparatus & venom
• Most not harmful to man
• Androctonus sp. Neurotoxin kills in 6 – 7 hours
Scorpiones contd.
•Indirect sperm transfer- still ‘copulate’

•Complex spermatophore left on the ground.

•Eggs brooded- live young

•Book lungs, no tracheal system (dark, damp places preferred).

2. Aranea – spiders.
• Largest order; 35,000 spp.
• Carnivorous- feed on insects.
• Venom pre-digests, suck in juices.
• Best eyes of chelicerates (8 prs; well- developed- lens, optic
rods and retina).

• Chelicerae- poison gland.

• Neurotoxins- nervous system
• Haemolytic venom- kills tissue in area of the bite

• Recognition of sexual partner very important mate can be

confused with food.

• Contributes directly to the development of young.

Spiders contd.
•Silk production
- emitted as a liquid and hardens quickly
- used in: feeding, trap prey, safety line/ parachuting, cocoon making (eggs and sperms).
- 5 times stronger than steel.
Diagram of the internal anatomy of a female spider.
Spider using web to catch prey
3. Acarina (Mites & Ticks)

• Most advanced order; 30,000 spp.

• Most < 1mm long.
• Prey on man, his animals & crops.
• External parasites.
• Wide distribution: polar regions - deserts.
• Prosoma & opisthosoma fused to give ovoid shape- compact body.
Mite/Tick
•Reduced circulatory system - sinuses.
•Simple or no eyes.

•Direct sperm transfer via penis

•Newly hatched juveniles have 6 legs instead of characteristic 8.
Tutorial Question: Chelicerata
1. List the general chelicerate features and describe: EITHER the aquatic chelicerates OR
terrestrial chelicerates.

2. List the general chelicerate features and give the distinguishing features of each of the three
classes.
Demonstration Material: Crustaceans
Crustacean Diversity 6 of 10 classes.

Distinctive feature(s) of members of each class.

 CRUSTACEN DIVERSITY.

 Features shown by each class

1) Cephalocarida (most primitive- triramous appendages)
2) Branchiopoda (parthenogenetic)
3) Copepoda (most numerous metazoan)
4) Brachiura (parasitic)
5) Cirripedia (sessile)
6) Malacostraca (high diversity & most tasty)
 Class Cephalocarida (head shrimp)
7 – 9 spp.

1) Most primitive crustacean

Peculiarities:
 Triramous appendages.
 No abdominal appendages.
2. Class Copepoda- 7,500 spp.
Most numerous metazoan in the sea and
by extension on earth.

3 orders: Calanoida, Cyclopoidea &

Harpacticoida
2. Class- Branchiopoda ( spp.) ,
Order- Cladocera (Water Fleas).
Members capable of parthenogenesis.

Daughter individuals produce gametes which develop into new individuals

without fertilization.

Rapid multiplication.
4) Class Brachiura (3-75 spp.)
All Parasitic
• Blood sucking ectoparasites on fish (fish louse).
3) Class Cirripeda
(Barnacles)- 900 spp.
 Only sessile crustacean group.
Sessile barnacle.
 Stalked forms called ‘goose barnacles’.
 Found only in the sea.

Stalked barnacle.
5) Class Malacostraca.
 Largest crustacean class (20,027 spp.)
 ¾ of all known crustacean spp.

 Order Decapoda
• Largest (8,400 spp.)

Decapod diversity. (from top left to

right: tropical rock crab, hermit crab,
fiddler crab, red night shrimp &
spiny lobster.)
 Order Decapoda cont’d
•Pelagic (shrimp), modified with larger fringed pleopods for swimming.
•Crabs
- highly specialized
- abdomen greatly reduced
- uropods absent
- broad cephalothorax
- can move swiftly sideways- centre of gravity over legs.
Shrimp vs. Crab