A member of the largest phylum in the animal kingdom, characterized by jointed legs, segmented bodies, and external skeletons made of chitin. This group includes insects, spiders, crustaceans, and millipedes.
From Greek 'arthron' (joint) and 'podos' (foot), literally meaning 'jointed foot.' The term was introduced in the 1870s as scientists recognized the common structural features shared by insects, spiders, and crustaceans.
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