Common Jumping Bristletail vs Southern Rock Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Jumping Bristletail Southern Rock Bristletail
Scientific Name Petrobius maritimus Lepismachilis y-signata
Order Archaeognatha Archaeognatha
Family Machilidae Machilidae
Size 10-13 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Underground
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Europe Mediterranean Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Jumping Bristletail

A coastal bristletail found on rocky shores throughout Europe. It has a distinctive arched body shape and large compound eyes.

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Did You Know?

It can jump up to 30 centimeters by flexing its abdomen against the ground.

Southern Rock Bristletail

A Mediterranean bristletail identified by a Y-shaped marking on its thorax. It lives under stones and in rock crevices.

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Did You Know?

The Y-shaped thoracic marking gives this species its distinctive name.