Arthropod

The spider crab is an arthropod. It has an articulated skeleton, which can be seen at the junction of the legs.

Arthropods are a very large group of usually small animals,. They are easily recognized by their hard, articulated, armour-like skeleton, called the cuticle. The cuticle protects the body, but it needs to be articulated for the animal to move. The name Arthropod means "articulated leg".

Arthropods are the greatest group of animals on Earth. Eighty percent of known animals are arthropods. Arthropods are organized into various small groups. Insects, spiders, scorpions, mites, centipedes and millipedes, and crustaceans are among the arthropods.

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