Hello Chinmaya

Arthropoda is the largest phylum with about nine lakh species. They may be aquatic, terrestrial or even parasitic. They have jointed appendages and a chitinous exoskeleton.

There are 5 Different Characteristics of Arthropoda:

Exoskeleton

• Arthropods are invertebrates, which means their bodies do not have internal bones for support. To compensate for this, they produce a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, a mixture of lipids, carbohydrates and protein, which covers and protects their bodies like a suit of armor. As arthropods grow, they must shed or molt their exoskeletons.

Segmented Bodies

• Arthropods have bodies that are internally and externally segmented. The number of segments depends on the individual species; millipedes, for example, have more segments than lobsters.

Jointed Appendages

• The name arthropod actually comes from the Greek “arthro,” meaning joint, and “pod,” meaning foot. All arthropods have jointed limbs attached to their hard exoskeletons that allow for flexibility and movement

Bilateral Symmetry

• An arthropod's body can be divided vertically into two mirror images. This is called bilateral symmetry. An arthropod shares this symmetry with many other animals such as fish, mice and even humans.

Open Circulatory System

• An arthropod has an open circulatory system. This means instead of a closed circulatory system of interconnected veins and capillaries, an arthropod’s blood is pumped through open spaces called sinuses in order to reach tissues.

Thanks