Animals with exoskeleton

The body of the largest vertebrate animals is not a mystery to most of people: it is known that it has a skeleton, internal vital organs (heart, brain, etc.), a dermis of variable and organ characteristics through which the five senses are manifested, among other characteristics.

However, have you wondered what the invertebrate morphology is like? Then you need to know all about the animals with exoskeleton, names and examples. Don't miss this Animals and Pets Online article!

What is the exoskeleton?

The exoskeleton is an external structure that covers the body of various animals, including arthropods.It is characterized by being resistant but flexible .This structure It consists of different substances depending on the subfile to which the animal belongs: chitin for insects and fungi, calcium in mollusks and corals or silica in diatoms among other components.

In turn, the exoskeleton is formed by three structures :

Cuticle : non-cellular layer secreted by the hypodermis, arthropods are able to change this layer to grow.
Hypodermis : cellular structure that generates the cuticle and creates the necessary conditions for its change.
Basal membrane : non-cellular layer The innermost part of the exoskeleton is responsible for supporting the muscles.

Now, what are the functions of the exoskeleton? It is responsible for:

Protect and support the internal muscles and organs.
Isolate the animal from external agents , such as moisture and dryness.
Store substances that give bright colors to many species.

Now, some species, in addition if they have an exoskeleton, they also have an endoskeleton.

Classification of arthropods

The edge of the arthropods contains the more species than any other in the world.They all have exoskeletons, but what are these animals? To know, you must know the classification of arthropods:

Protarthropoda

They have primitive legs, a head and an abdomen.They can be terrestrial or aquatic.They are included in this superclass:

Arachnids : includes spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions, scorpions, among others.In total it includes more than 30,000 different species.
Pycnogonida : covers 50 species of marine spiders, which usually inhabit the body of other animals.

Euarthropoda

Includes superclass Mandibulata , where animals are classified, mostly terrestrial, which have a jaw.In addition, the species have well-formed antennae, legs and mandibular parts.It covers the following classes:

Insecta or insects : they have a well-defined head, thorax and abdomen.They live in terrestrial or aquatic environments and some have wings.The different species have multiplicity of characteristics and particularities.
Crustaceans : they have a rigid exoskeleton due to calcareous substances.They live in fresh or salt water and enclose a variety of species with multiple appearances, from crabs and jaibas to mealybugs.
Miriapodos : develop an elongated trunk that makes them similar to worms, but with a differentiated head.

In turn, the subclass of the Miriapods is divided into:

Diplopodos : they are the milpies or congorochos.They present jaws, elongated body and several legs.
Chilopods : includes centipedes and scolopendras.Similar to diplopods, they have a more elongated body.
Syphilos : elongated species similar to chilopods, but smaller in size and with antennas.
Pauropoda : these are terrestrial worms that like to live in the humus, they have antennas and have tracheal breathing.

Now that you know everything about this outer structure, we present some animals with an exoskeleton:

1.Acaro

Of the subclass Acari , it is parasitic arachnids of other animals.There are terrestrial and aquatic species, and their diet is varied: hematophagous, detritivorous and herbivorous.The different species are capable of transmitting diseases or become a plague of plants.

2.Crabs

There are many types of crabs, but in general we talk about five-legged crustaceans , a body of strong armor and tongs that allow them to defend themselves and catch their prey.They live in the seabed, where they walk to find their food, consisting mainly of smaller animals.

3.Bees

Bees are insects that are widely distributed on planet Earth .They are organized in colonies with well-defined hierarchies and are very important and n the pollination process of thousands of plant species.

4.Ciempies

Under the name of centipedes, it focuses on more than 3,000 species of arthropods that They are characterized by an elongated body divided into segments, multiple legs, antennas and powerful jaws.They are predators and hunt insects, worms and snails .

5.Aranasinas

They have eight legs that they use to move , which is why they are compared to the land aranas.They easily mimic the seabed and have a body of thin and long limbs.

What is the endoskeleton?

It is an internal structure that protects the organs, allows the muscles to become entrenched, provides shape to the animal's body, allows movement and protects the nervous system.All vertebrates have an endoskeleton, so the most common animals have these structures.

A difference between the exoskeleton and the endoskeleton is that the latter does not "move" , but it grows with the individual to which it belongs, but it is not necessary to discard it to perform this function.In addition, it develops from the moment the organism is an embryo.

On the other hand, the Endoskeletons are characterized by presenting a spine or spine formed by discs, which protect the nervous system and connect with the skull and brain in most species.

Animals with endoskeleton

There are thousands of species that have this structure that allows them to protect their organs and strengthen the body shape.Here are some of the animals with endoskeleton:

1.Cephalopods

Commonly known as octopus and squid , cephalopods inhabit the seas from the Carboniferous.They are characterized by tentacles and a flexible body with gelatinous texture.They feed on other animals.

2.Peces

Most fish have an endoskeleton that protects their internal organs and provides the muscles with the ideal support for swimming.For this reason, the Fish endoskeleton includes part of the fins and tail in many specimens.

3.Urocordados

They are a phylum of marine animals that has more of 3,000 species.They have tubular, elongated or even microscopic bodies, but they have in common a primitive nervous and circulatory system .A Despite this, they have a simple exoskeleton that contains blood cells and supports the muscles.

4.Vertebrates

All vertebrates, whether marine, terrestrial, flying or freshwater They have an exoskeleton that protects their organs, contains the nervous system and provides support to the muscles.Among the vertebrates we find the following animals:

Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Cartilaginous fish
Fish with fins

The human being, also, also is in this classification.

Animals with exoskeleton and endoskeleton

In the diverse fauna that inhabits the planet, there are some animals with exoskeleton and endoskeleton.Do you recognize these species?

1.Armadillos

Armadillos are terrestrial mammals and, therefore, they possess an endoskeleton inside their body.However, these animals are also characterized by presenting a outer shell formed of plaques, which serves as a means of protection.

2.Pangolines

Pangolins are mammals that are distributed in Asia and Africa, where they feed on ants and termites.As for their appearance, it is similar to armadillos Since, in addition to being a vertebrate, it has an external armor formed by rigid plates.

3.Tortugas

Sea and aquatic turtles have an exoskeleton that facilitates its recognition: the shell .The shell protects the organs and, at the same time, represents a kind of "house" for the turtle a, where you can take refuge to rest or avoid predators.

If you want to read more articles similar to Animals with exoskeleton-Names and examples , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.

Bibliography

De Cruz Lozano, Jaime.(2005). Entomology: morphology and physiology of insects .Palmira, National University of Colombia.
Cruz Angon, Andrea.( ed.).(2011). The biodiversity of Veracruz .State study.Mexico, Conabio.

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Animals with exoskeleton - Names and examples