Arthropods Dissection
Julian Merville
Objectives
Background Information
The grasshopper, or the caelifera, is found in most parts of the world (pretty much everywhere there is grass). Grasshoppers eat: grasses, leaves, and crops. Grasshoppers are eaten by: small birds, rodents, and nematodes. Grasshopper's droppings return nutrients, from consumed plants, back into the soil which helps fertilize the soil. Grasshoppers have developed long back legs which allows them to move quickly, and grasshoppers camouflage into the dirt and grass to hide from predators.
The Integumentary system
The crayfish's integumentary system also consists of unique parts including: antennae which serve very similar purposes that the grasshopper's antennae do. The crayfish also has large claws called cheliped that serve as a hand-like structure, allowing the crayfish to grab prey and other objects as needed; the cheliped also serves as a way for the crayfish to fend off predators. The crayfish also has a tail allowing for easier maneuvering through the water; the tail also has small legs underneath it called swimmerettes which aid in the movement of a crayfish.
Fun Facts
-Grasshoppers make "music" by rubbing their hind legs together.
-There are 200 different species of crayfish in North America.
-There is a blue colored crayfish.
sources
http://insected.arizona.edu/ghopperinfo.htm
https://www.johnston.k12.ia.us/schools/Lawson/Gradelevellinks/Crayfish/funfact.html
http://news.softpedia.com/news/11-Facts-About-Crayfish-75581.shtml
http://insects.about.com/od/grasshoppersandcrickets/a/10-Cool-Facts-About-Grasshoppers.htm