FAUNA PARAGUAY CHELICERATA: ARACHNIDA

All Paraguayan representatives of the Phylum Chelicerata ("horn talons") belong to the Class Arachnida. Arachnids compose 98% of known Chelicerate species and are the only non-marine group in the phylum. Arachnida comprises the spiders, scorpions and mites amongst others. Chelicerata have the following characteristics:

º Bilateral symmetry
º A through, straight gut
º Body divided into two regions, an anterior Prosoma bearing the legs and a posterior Opisthosoma.
º Appendages consist of one pair of "chelicerae" forming the mouthparts, one pair of feeler-like "pedipalps" and four pairs of walking legs.
º Lack antennae or mandibles
º Lack compund eyes, direct median and indirect lateral ocelli present on the prosoma.
º Non-calcareous exoskeleton.
º Blood system circulates respiratory gases and usually contains haemocyanin.
º Internal fertilisation in terrestrial forms.
º Juveniles small versions of adults, hatching with a full complement of legs.


Click links below for galleries:

Scorpiones - Scorpions

Araneae - Spiders

Opiliones - Harvestmen

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