Arthropods are animals with segmented bodies and jointed legs covered by an exoskeleton. They have three main body sections - head, thorax, and abdomen. They reproduce sexually and have traits like antennae, legs, compound eyes, and a tracheal respiratory system. Arthropods exhibit different life cycles from complete metamorphosis with four stages to incomplete or no metamorphosis, and the class Insecta is divided into orders based on wings, mouthparts, and metamorphosis.