What defines membership in the Subphylum Chelicerata for ticks?
Answer
Having chelicerae (pincers or fangs) as primary mouthparts
The classification into the Subphylum Chelicerata is based on a specific anatomical feature related to feeding apparatus. Members of this subphylum are defined by possessing chelicerae, which function as pincers or fangs used to secure food and initiate feeding. This characteristic sets them apart from groups that utilize antennae or mandibles as primary feeding structures. While ticks do possess jointed appendages and exoskeletons (placing them in Arthropoda), the presence of chelicerae is the defining trait used at the subphylum level to categorize them within the arachnid lineage.
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