Arthropoda is one of the largest animal phyla on Earth, containing a very wide and diverse range of species. They are widely distributed in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. The following are the classifications of arthropods:
1. Crustacea: includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, beetles, etc. The cephalothorax is shield-shaped and has two pairs of antennae.
2. Spider subphylum (Chelicerata): includes spiders, scorpions, crayfish, etc. The cephalothorax is merged into one body segment and has two pairs of mouthparts.
3. Insecta: includes butterflies, ants, bees, mosquitoes, silkworms, etc. The body is divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. It usually has one or two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs.
4. Diplopoda: includes millipedes, tenipedes, etc. The body is composed of many rings, and each ring has two pairs of legs.
5. Onychophora: Commonly known as slippery snakes, it looks like a mollusk but has jointed feet and an exoskeleton.
6. Mollusc subphylum (Tardigrada): Commonly known as water bear, the body is persimmon-shaped and has four pairs of claws
Overall, the phylum Arthropoda has a very wide and diverse range of species, and the classification among these species is complex. The categories listed above are only some of them.
