Arthropods
Arthropod Dissection PAP-Bio P.7 April 8,2014- T.Li
Astacoidea
Also known as mud bugs or freshwater lobsters, crayfish are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters. They are members of Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. The name Crayfish, comes from the old French word escrevisse.The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" (folk etymology).The largely American variant "crawfish" is similarly derived. Crayfish belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropods, order decapods, family cambaridae, genus cambarus, and species bartonii.
Caelifera
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order orthroptera. The phylum is arthropoda, the class is insecta, the order is orthoptera, next, the suborder is caelifera,the family is acrididae, the subfamily is melanoplinae.,the tribe is melanoplini, the genus is melanoplus, the species is differentialis.
Objectives
Students will learn the internal and external anatomy of grasshoppers and crayfish. Students will compare the similarities and differences between them. Students will also learn the functions of internal and external structures of both the crayfish and grasshopper.
Life Cycle of Crayfish
Habitat
Crayfish mainly dwells in bodies of water that do not freeze at the bottom. They can live in both freshwater and saltwater.
Predators
seagulls, heron, and other birds that live near bodies of water prey on them. Other animals like large fish also feed on them too.
Life Cycle of Grasshopper
Once hatched from eggs, grasshopper's bodies do not change, but only in size.
Habitat
Grasshoppers live near vegetation like plains, forests, or grasslands.
Predators
Carnivorous insects like spiders prey on them. Birds like the wild Turkey feed on them.
Evolutionary Relationship between Crayfish/ Grasshopper
The grasshopper and crayfish do have similarities in parts of their structures. It is because they are not too far from each other on the cladogram. Though they are in different phylum, they derive from the same ancestors.
Grasshopper/Crayfish Dissection
Internal Anatomy of Crayfish
mouth, execretory system, rostrum, dorsal surface, heart, exoskeleton, crop, liver, intestine, anus, stomach.
External Anatomy of Crayfish
abdomen, antenna, eye, mouth, walking legs, swimmerettes,
Respiratory System of Crayfish
External Anatomy of Grasshopper
abdomen, antenna, compound eye, hind wing, thorax, forewing.
Internal Anatomy of Grasshopper
heart, exoskeleton, green gland, mouth, stomach, liver, nerve cord.
Respiratory System of Grasshopper
About Grasshopper/Crayfish Respiratory Systems
In the grasshopper, respiration is performed using tracheae, air-filled tubes, which open at the surfaces of the thorax and abdomen through pairs of spiracles. A crayfish breathes by using gills located outside the body underneath the carapace (shell in front of the tail or abdomen).
Interesting Facts on Grasshoppers
Feeding: Although they eat many things, they still have preferences. Mating behavior: See how male courts female. Egg-laying: Female digs hole with abdomen. Some grasshoppers spit a brown bitter liquid as a defensive behavior in response to being handled. Use a piece of white paper and gently wipe the grasshopper's mouth if the spit is not evident. Before molting, grasshoppers do not eat and become less active. During the molt, they swallow air to build up pressure to split the old cuticle.
Fun Facts on Crayfish
There are a species of blue crayfish that dwells at the bottom of the ocean called Blue! The most rarest species of crayfish are white colored ones. The Dwarf crayfish is the smallest crayfish, about the size of half your finger!
How do Grasshoppers and Crayfish Impact our Lives!
Crayfish are used as a food source, but certain species of crayfish can endanger other species of crayfish through competition, like the rusty crayfish. Grasshoppers can be harmful to many plant species because they are able to reproduce in big numbers.