Arctic Springtail vs Lucifugous Springtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Springtail | Lucifugous Springtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megaphorura arctica | Megalothorax minimus |
| Order | Collembola | Collembola |
| Family | Onychiuridae | Neelidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 0.3-0.5 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Caves |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Svalbard, Arctic Canada, Greenland, northern Scandinavia | Worldwide |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Lucifugous Springtail
One of the smallest known hexapods, found in deep soil and cave environments. It is nearly transparent and extremely difficult to observe.
Did You Know?
At about 0.3 mm, it is among the tiniest hexapods on Earth.