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Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior pp 1–11Cite as

Insect Morphology

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Introduction

Morphology is the branch of biology dedicated to the study of form and composition of body parts. It is the foundation of various fields in biology, such as taxonomy and evolutionary studies. There is a deep connection between form and function, considering that the bauplan of a species has been shaped for millions of years as a result of physical adaptations to different types of environments and tasks to be executed.

Lineages have a unique history, which is reflected by modifications to existing structures. Terrestrial arthropods, for instance, possess a series of adaptations to live in a dry environment. Total disconnection from the ancestral aquatic environment required a set of evolutionary steps, which include developing stronger and more efficient support and locomotor appendages and physiological and structural adaptations to withstand osmotic stress and allow aerial gas exchange.

The extreme diversity of external form found in insects blatantly portrays a group...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museu Nacional, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Isabela Rocha & Paula Souto

  2. Departamento de Biologia Geral, UFF, Niterói, RJ, Brazil

    André Hoffmann

Authors
  1. Isabela Rocha
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  2. André Hoffmann
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  3. Paula Souto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabela Rocha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University Department of Psychology, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Marieke Cassia Gartner

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Rocha, I., Hoffmann, A., Souto, P. (2020). Insect Morphology. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1143-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1143-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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