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*greek for ‘6 legs’*
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*as of ‘24 SEPTEMBER 2023’*
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The subphylum Hexapoda (from the Greek for six legs) constitutes the largest number of species of arthropods and includes the insects as well as 3 much smaller groups of wingless arthropods:
Collembola,
Protura, and
Diplura
(all of these were once considered insects).
The Collembola (or springtails) are very abundant in terrestrial environments.
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Hexapods are named for their most distinctive feature: a consolidated thorax with three pairs of legs (six legs).
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(most other ‘arthropods’ have more than 3 pairs of legs)
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