Phylum Arthropoda is the arthropod group of invertebrate animals which includes; crayfish, lobsters, spiders, insects etc. They are metamerically segmented and bilaterally symmetrical animals. Typically, each segment has a pair of jointed appendages and at least one pair is modified as jaws. Arthropods are covered in a strong external exoskeleton produced from protein and chitin that is strengthened in places by phenol to form sclerotin. These external skeleton needs to be shed from time to time to allow the animal to grow. The animal crawls out of its old shell revealing the new shell in place. Air is then pumped into the body to expand it and stretch the new shell which then hardens and the muscles attach themselves to the new plates. While this process is taking place the animal is very vulnerable to predators. Research Phylum Arthropoda
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Abbreviations
Nature
Research Phylum Arthropoda
