Arthropod biology and evolution

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More than two-thirds of all described living organisms belong to the phylum Arthropoda, showcasing immense diversity in species, body forms, developmental processes, and adaptations across various habitats, from deep oceans to terrestrial and aerial environments. Among these, the fruit-fly stands out as a prominent model organism, integral to Mendelian and population genetics, and now pivotal in developmental genetics. This shift has transformed our understanding of key arthropod traits, including the origin and evolution of segments, specialization, and appendages. Concurrently, as developmental genetics fueled the rise of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), molecular phylogenetics began to challenge traditional views on arthropod phylogeny, particularly the relationships among insects, crustaceans, myriapods, and chelicerates. Meanwhile, paleontological discoveries have unveiled numerous extinct forms, prompting a significant reevaluation of arthropod phylogeny and revealing unexpected disparities among arthropod and arthropod-like forms, complicating the clear classification of the phylum.