Forest Bristletail vs Rock Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Forest Bristletail Rock Bristletail
Scientific Name Machilis hrabei Petrobius brevistylis
Order Archaeognatha Archaeognatha
Family Machilidae Machilidae
Size 8-12 mm 9-12 mm
Habitat Forests Beaches & Coastal
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Central Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Forest Bristletail

A central European bristletail inhabiting forest leaf litter and mossy rocks. It is one of many Machilis species found in Europe.

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Did You Know?

The genus Machilis was one of the first bristletail genera ever described.

Rock Bristletail

A coastal bristletail found on rocky shores from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. It has shorter cerci than the related P. maritimus.

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Did You Know?

It can tolerate brief immersion in seawater during high tides.