What defining structural feature separates Class Arachnida from insects?
Answer
Body division into the cephalothorax (prosoma) and abdomen (opisthosoma)
A fundamental criterion for placement within Class Arachnida involves the gross anatomical structure of the body. Arachnids possess a body that is distinctly divided into only two primary regions. The anterior section, encompassing the head and thorax fused together, is termed the cephalothorax or prosoma. The posterior section is the abdomen, also referred to as the opisthosoma. Insects, conversely, are characterized by three distinct body parts: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. This two-part body configuration, along with the standard count of eight legs, is key to differentiating arachnids from the insect class.
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