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Of the roughly one-and-a-quarter million named animal species, over one million are arthropods. These animals occupy by far the widest variety of habitats on Earth. The name Arthropod means "jointed foot." All arthropods have segmented bodies and are covered in a jointed, protective armor called an exoskeleton. Their body muscles attach to the inside of the exoskeleton. In order to grow, arthropods must periodically molt -- a process that entails shedding their exoskeleton and inflating their body before the new skeleton hardens. The incredible diversity and success of the arthropods can be attributed to their extraordinarily adaptable body plan. A key feature is the evolution of the myriad types of appendages (antennae, claws, wings, shields, mouth parts) that allow arthropods to exploit nearly every niche on Earth.
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