They have jointed limbs and segmented bodies. Segmentation was a development which allowed an animal to specialize and compartmentalize areas of it's body. It allowed the animal to feed and clean itself and do all kinds of special activities. Walls called septa divide off areas of the body from others and act sort of like doors from one room to the next. The jointed limbs of the animals allow them to move.
Arthropods are a major part of the oceanic food chain.
Most plants depend on insects for pollination and survival. Without insects for pollination, most plants would disappear and this could threaten our very survival. The animals I've illustrated here were all created on the excellent Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator softwares. I selected the particular species because I think they look cool. This page is dedicated to the unappreciated efforts of good teachers and especially to Tyra Hellard who gave me the idea.