arthropodë

Arthropodë is a term that appears primarily in speculative biology and fictional texts. It refers to a proposed, non-standard clade within the phylum Arthropoda. Because it is not recognized by mainstream taxonomy, its definition and member membership vary by author. In such uses, arthropodë is intended to highlight particular evolutionary narratives or shared derived traits that differ from conventional arthropod classifications.

Typical features attributed to arthropodë in speculative treatments include a highly integrated body plan with fused anterior and posterior tagmata, a reinforced exoskeleton of chitin, and specialized limb adaptations. Advocates may posit a combined respiratory system that blends tracheal tubes with book-like gill structures, and a centralized nervous system with pronounced cephalization. The term is thus more about hypothetical morphology than about a fixed set of taxa.

Because arthropodë is not a formal taxon, its supposed composition and diversity change with the narrative. In some sketches it encompasses major arthropod lineages such as insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods, unified by the proposed synapomorphy. Life cycles described for arthropodë groups can be holometabolous or hemimetabolous, depending on the author, and habitats range from marine to terrestrial.

Notes and caveats: arthropodë has no standing in current zoological nomenclature. It is used as a thought experiment or fictional device to explore alternative evolutionary histories of jointed animals.