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arachnid
A member of the class Arachnida (phylum Arthropoda, see arthropod), which contains scorpions, spiders, harvestmen, ticks, mites, and king crabs. Arachnids have an exoskeleton, four pairs of jointed, walking legs, two distinct body sections (cephalothorax and abdomen), and chelicerate jaws (consisting of clawd pincers). With the exception of the king crab, Limulus, they are are air-breathing. They lack antennae and wings. Most arachnids are terrestrial and live in soil, leaf litter, and low vegetation; some are blood-sucking parasites. About 60,000 species are known.
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• ZOOLOGY
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