Insects are the animals that have six legs.
Insects: Masters of Diversity
Insects represent the most diverse group of animals on Earth. They are a type of arthropod, distinguished by a variety of features, including:
- Body Parts: Most insects have three main body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen.
- Antennae: They typically possess two antennae, which they use for sensing their environment.
- Legs: The most defining characteristic in relation to the question: insects have six legs.
Examples of Insects
The diversity of insects is vast, encompassing many different species with an array of shapes and sizes. Here are some examples:
Insect | Description |
---|---|
Beetles | A diverse group with hardened forewings. |
Flies | Have a single pair of wings. |
Ants | Social insects, often found in colonies. |
Butterflies | Known for their colorful wings. |
While other arthropods, like spiders, centipedes, crabs, and lobsters, also have jointed legs, they do not have six legs like insects. For example, spiders have eight legs, while centipedes can have many pairs of legs. This distinguishes insects from other arthropod groups.