Gershner's Jumping Bristletail vs Common Jumping Bristletail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Gershner's Jumping Bristletail Common Jumping Bristletail
Scientific Name Pedetontus gershneri Petrobius maritimus
Order Archaeognatha Archaeognatha
Family Machilidae Machilidae
Size 8-10 mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Woodlands Beaches & Coastal
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions United States Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Gershner's Jumping Bristletail

A North American jumping bristletail found in leaf litter and under bark. It has a distinctly humped thorax and long tail filaments.

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Did You Know?

Like all Archaeognatha, it molts throughout its entire adult life.

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.