Body Anatomy
Includes spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks. Body is divided into the Cephalothorax and the abdomen. They have 6 pairs of jointed appendages attached to the cephelothorax; 1 set of chelicerae, 1 set of pedipalps, 4 sets of walking legs.
- Spides- Constricted at the abdomen, have poisonous fangs, 8 simple eyes, spinnerets used for producing silk web, use a book lung. Other spiders have a system of tracheae that carry air directly to the tissues through openings in the exoskeleton called spiracls. Spiders use coxal glands to remove waste and discharge them through the anus. Range in size from 0.5 mm to 9 cm.
- Scorpions- similar to spiders-- however-- Pedipalps are larger and pincer like, used to catch prey, have a stinger at the end of the abdomen used for killing caught prey. range in size from 9mm to 20 cm.
- Mites and Ticks- in the Arachnida Class. Have a fused cepholothorax and abdomen. smaller on average, and are non poisonous. <1 mm in length to 3 cm.
Habitat, Diet, Life Cycle
Chelicerata live in almost any environment, commonly, though in temperate forests. feeding mainly on insects. Spiders and Scorpion can catch small fish, bugs, and frogs. Mites and Ticks are usually invasive parasites that feed off living animals, however some feed from plants. Reproduction occurs when the male spider transfers sperm to the females seminal receptor. Eggs are fertilized when the eggs pass out of the female into a silken case she has made. They hatch in about two weeks and undergo their first molt before leaving the case.
Examples
- Spiders- Brown recluse and Black widow, both highly venomous.
- Scorpions- Flat rock scorpion (largest species of scorpion)
- Mites- spider mites. Deer ticks.