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.