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springtail
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Springtails (class Collembola) form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects, the others being Protura and Diplura. Although the three lineages are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouthparts, they do not appear to be any more closely related to one another than they are to insects, which have external mouthparts. There are more than 9000 species.
Springtails are small, six-legged creatures that were once classified as insects but are now recognized as a distinct group of their own, belonging to a class called Collembola. With over 9,000 known species, they represent the largest of three similar lineages that have internal mouthparts, distinguishing them from true insects.
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Species
springtails
Class
- PhylumArthropoda
- ClassCollembola
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Wikidata facts
- Image
- Collembola-Diversity.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- taxon name
- Collembola
- Commons category
- Collembola
- Commons gallery
- Collembola
- taxon common name
- Springtails and allies
- vocalized name
- קְפִיץ-זַנְבָאִים
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~25 min read
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Morphology
- Genomics
- Systematics and evolution
- Ecology
- Eating behavior
- Predators
- Distribution
- Role in turfgrass ecosystems
- Relationship with humans
- Ecotoxicology laboratory animals
- Climate warming impact
- Reproduction
- See also
- References
- External links
Springtails (class Collembola) form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects, the others being Protura and Diplura. Although the three lineages are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouthparts, they do not appear to be any more closely related to one another than they are to insects, which have external mouthparts. There are more than 9000 species.
Springtails are omnivorous, free-living organisms that prefer moist conditions. They do not directly engage in the decomposition of organic matter, but contribute to it indirectly through the fragmentation of organic matter and the control of soil microbial communities. The word Collembola is from the Ancient Greek meaning 'glue' and meaning 'peg'; this name was given due to the existence of the collophore, which was previously thought to stick to surfaces to stabilize the creature.