Insect Armor Exoskeletons Structure Function Nice armor Hisssssssss Exoskeleton rigid external covering of many invertebrates Muscle attachment Protection Colors Functions Muscles Exoskeleton must be hard where muscles attach and flexible at joints ID: 765891
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Insect Armor ExoskeletonsStructureFunction Nice armor! Hisssssssss!
Exoskeleton - rigid external covering of many invertebrates - Muscle attachment - Protection- Colors Functions
Muscles Exoskeleton must be hard where muscles attach and flexible at joints Insect need lots more muscles to bend all their joints
Protection This is hard to protect against damageIt is waterproof to keep in moisture Often has spikes to catch prey or discourage predators
Could be used to protect softer equipment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNr-xee4UxE
Structure Cuticle (secreted) Epidermis (like skin cells) - The cuticle is made of proteins all woven together into a mesh that hardens when exposed to air
Chitin – the main protein/sugar complex in the exoskeleton
Sclerotin – harder protein in the matrix Resilin – flexible protein in the matrix - Acts like a hard plastic like our PLA - Acts like rubber
C uticle Proteins Cross-linked Proteins
Colors Colors can be for camouflage Colors can attract mates or warn predators
http://newton.ex.ac.uk/research/emag/butterflies/imagespage.htm High Mag of Iridescent butterfly scale Colors are often determined by the SHAPE of the exoskeleton reflecting light like a CD