Springtail

From Freepedia

? Springtails
Image:Onychiurus-on-Birch.JPG Onchiurus on a birch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Entognatha Order: Collembola Lubbock, 1870
Families
Suborder Arthropleona   Superfamily Entomobryoidea    Entomobryidae - slender springtails    Isotomidae - smooth springtails    Oncopoduridae    Paronellidae    Tomoceridae   Superfamily Poduroidea    Brachystomellidae    Hypogastruridae - elongate-bodied springtails    Neanuridae    Odontellidae    Onychiuridae - blind springtails    Poduridae - water springtails Suborder Symphypleona    Dicyrtomidae    Katiannidae    Sminthuridae - globular springtails    Sminthurididae    Bourletiellidae    Arrhopalitidae

Springtails (Order Collembola) form the largest of the three orders of modern Hexapods that are no longer considered to be insects (along with the Protura and Diplura). The three orders are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouth parts, but they do not appear to be more closely related to one another than they are to the insects, which have external mouthparts. Recent genetic studies suggest that the Collembola are a separate evolutionary line from the other Hexapoda.

Members of Collembola are normally less than 6 mm in length, have six or fewer abdominal segments and possess a tubular appendage (the collophore) in the first abdominal segment. An abdominal, tail-like appendage, called the furcula, is present in most species and is folded beneath the body, to be used for jumping when the animal is threatened. Springtails are frequently found in leaf litter and other decaying material. The suborder Arthropleona has an elongated body in contrast to the globular body of the Symphypleona.

Reference

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2928345.stm
• TSN: 99237
• TSN Arthropleona: 99238

External link

• Taxonomic checklist including all Collembola species of the world