Grasshopper Arthropod: “Jointed Leg”
Classification Common Name: Grasshopper Scientific Name: Romalea Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Other Classification: Subphylum Uniramia
Major Distinguishing Characteristics 1. Body Plan: Head, Thorax, Abdomen 2. Body Cavity: Coelom - true open space 3. Symmetry: Bilateral 4. Cell Specialization: Organ Systems 5. Other: exhibit Incomplete Metemorphosis - Nymph: physically resembles adult but lacks reproductive structures
Life Support Processes Absorption: intestine Feeding: specialized mouth parts to cut & chew plants/grass - herbivores Digestion: digestive tract
Life Support Processes Respiration: Tracheal Tubes lead to Spiracles; tubular network for gas exchange; body movement causes air to flow in & out Circulation: Heart - Open circulation Excretion: Malpighian Tubules- excrete nitrogenous wastes; Spiracles excrete CO 2
Life Support Processes Secretion: Digestive enzymes secreted by the Gastric Caeca Response: Tympanum membrane located behind the leg - ear drum; Compound Eye, well developed ganglia in head - sense of taste, chemical receptors Movement: Walking legs, jumping legs, wings
Life Support Processes Reproduction: separate sexes; male uses his ovipositors to deposit sperm in the female - internal fertilization. Female uses her ovipositor to dig hole in ground for eggs Support: Exoskeleton
Ecological Relationships Herbivores - low on food chain Swarms - agricultural pests Live on Land
Body Systems Compared with Humans Tracheal tubes are comparable to Bronchi & Bronchiole tubes of human lungs Malpighian Tubules - kidney
Advancements Over the Previous Phylum 1. Specialized appendages 2. Extremely well developed sense organs 3. Ability to fly 4. Efficient respiratory network
Some grasshoppers rub their wings together to create music, others snap their wings together while flying, and others just rub their hind legs across their front wings. Grasshoppers consume green forage at a rate of roughly eight times their weight.
A grasshopper can leap over obstacles 500 times its own height. In relation to its size, it has the greatest jumping ability of all animals.