Which Phylum classification groups *Ixodes pacificus* with insects and crustaceans?
Answer
Phylum Arthropoda
The classification of the Western Blacklegged Tick, *Ixodes pacificus*, places it within Phylum Arthropoda. This phylum is characterized by organisms that possess a segmented body structure, jointed appendages, and a hard, external exoskeleton. This grouping unites ticks with diverse creatures like insects, spiders, and crustaceans, reflecting fundamental structural similarities inherited from ancient evolutionary lines. While Arachnida is a more specific class within this phylum that separates it from insects, Arthropoda represents the broader grouping defined by these key morphological features shared across these distinct groups.
Related Questions
Which Phylum classification groups *Ixodes pacificus* with insects and crustaceans?What key leg count distinguishes the Class Arachnida of *I. pacificus* from insects?What distinct morphological feature defines *I. pacificus* belonging to Family Ixodidae?What biological capability inherent to the *Ixodes* genus alerts professionals to potential neurotoxic effects?What specific epithet in *Ixodes pacificus* clearly indicates its primary geographical confinement?How long do *Ixodes* species, including *I. pacificus*, often require to progress from larva to adult stage?Which specific bacterium transmitted by *I. pacificus* is responsible for causing Lyme disease?What feature dictates that *I. pacificus* surveillance data must often be tracked separately from *I. scapularis* records?Which specific small mammal is identified as a critical reservoir host for Lyme disease bacteria in California for *I. pacificus*?What host type do the larval stages of *I. pacificus* commonly target for feeding during their development?What characteristic separates ticks in Order Ixodida from other mites in Subclass Acari?