Arctic Springtail vs Brazilian Cave Springtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Springtail | Brazilian Cave Springtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaphorura arctica | Trogolaphysa aelleni |
| Order | Collembola | Collembola |
| Family | Onychiuridae | Paronellidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Svalbard, Arctic Canada, Greenland, northern Scandinavia | Brazil |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
Arctic Springtail
A white, eyeless springtail that lives in soil and under stones in the High Arctic. It lacks a furcula and cannot jump. It survives extreme cold through cryoprotective dehydration, losing most of its body water before freezing.
Did You Know?
This springtail can survive temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius by dehydrating itself until it contains almost no free water.
Brazilian Cave Springtail
A troglomorphic springtail from caves in the Brazilian semiarid region. It has elongated appendages and reduced pigmentation.
Did You Know?
Many Brazilian cave springtails are known from a single cave system each.