Pycnogonida General Characters (Phylum: Arthropoda, Sub-phylum: Chelicerata)


Pycnogonida is a class of sub-phylum Chelicerata of Phylum Arthropoda. They include sea spiders.

Systematic Position:

general characters of pycnogonida

Sea Spider (source wikipedia)

Kingdom: Animalia
Sub-kingdom: Eumetazoa
Super-phylum: Ecdysosoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Sub-phylum: Chelicerata
Class 3: Pycnogonida

Identifying characters of Pycnogonida

@. They includes sea spiders

@. Exclusively marine forms

@. Long legs with small body

@. Body consists of cephalothorax and abdomen

@. Abdomen very small (vestigial) 

@. Usually abdomen do not bear any appendages

@. Eyes present, dorsally located

@. Eyes simple

@. Usually four pairs of long walking legs

@. Five and six pair legend forms are also present

@. Single celled muscle system which is surrounded by connective tissue

@. Respiratory system usually absent

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Zoology Short Notes


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