Why must arthropods molt

Molting is a dangerous undertaking for mantis shrimp and most other arthropods.Each stage of growth ends with molting, the process of.Moulting in living and fossil arthropods, palaeontology online, volume 6.Why is it necessary for an arthropod to molt?Possibly the biggest reason why tarantulas molt is to allow them to grow larger.

Instead, arthropods must go through the delicate process of shedding the old exoskeleton and expanding to a larger size before the new exoskeleton hardens.How and why did the arthropod shed its skin?Instead, arthropods must go through the delicate process of shedding the old exoskeleton and expanding to a larger size before the new exoskeleton hardens.In this process the inner layers of the old cuticle are digested by a molting fluid secreted by the epidermal cells, the animal emerges from the old covering, and the new cuticle hardens.The molting process of arthropods, chiefly controlled by ecdysteroids, is generally considered very stressful.

In fact arthropods are a part of clade called ecdysozoa, the members of which undergo ecdysis (molting).Shell becomes very heavy for the arthropod, and they don't grow so the arthropod has to shed the shell and s unprotected until a new one grows.Photo taken by mr robert thorn, parks australia cocos (keeling) islands.