Classification

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Diptera

Family: Tabanidae

Genus: Tabanus

Species: Tabanus longiglossus

Classification:

Tabanus longiglossus is classified in the domain Eukarya because they have eukaryotic cells and have distinct cell membranes.  They are classified under the kingdom Animalia due to the fact that they are multicellular and heterotrophic.  This placement also results from their lacking cell walls, being mobile, and that they pass through an embryonic blastula stage.  This species is classified in the phylum Arthropoda because they are eucoelomate protostomes.  They also have a highly developed organ system and a cuticular exoskeleton that is composed of the abundant polysaccharide, chitin.  Another reason they are placed into this phylum is because they have three distinct regions: head, thorax, and abdomen (Hickman 2012).  They are grouped into the class Insecta due to the fact that they have three pairs of jointed legs.  Another characteristic feature is that their wings are attached to the body at the thorax region.  Species in the class Insecta also have specific specialization in each segment, as does Tabanus longiglossus (Hickman 2012).  The main reason this species is organized into the order Diptera (the “true” flies) is because of their halteres (reduced hind wings), which are miniscule, blunt structures that are used as balancing organs in flight.  They have only one pair of fully functioning wings (patent flight wings) (Wilegmann 2007).  Their family classification of Tabanidae (Horse-flies) comes from their large body size, the painful bites the females inflict, and for their distinctive rapid and noisy flight (Arnett 1984). More about the adaptations of Tabanus longiglossus can be found on the adaptations page of this website.  The word Tabanus means horsefly and the word longiglossus means long glosses.

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