Chelicerata
Quick Summary
The subphylum Chelicerata is one of the four major groups of arthropods. This diverse subphylum includes familiar creatures like spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites, as well as less common ones like horseshoe crabs and sea spiders.
Chelicerates are characterized by their body structure, which is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax (prosoma) and the abdomen (opisthosoma). Unlike other arthropods, they lack antennae. Instead, their first pair of appendages, called chelicerae, are located near the mouth and are often used for grasping prey or injecting venom. The other appendages on the cephalothorax include a pair of pedipalps, which function in sensing or reproduction, and typically four pairs of walking legs. Most chelicerates are terrestrial predators, though some have adapted to aquatic environments.12345
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