Tropical Bat Fly vs Giant Japygid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tropical Bat Fly Giant Japygid
Scientific Name Cyclopodia horsfieldi Metajapyx subterraneus
Order Diptera Diplura
Family Nycteribiidae Japygidae
Size 3-5 mm 10-20 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Parasites Predators
Regions South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tropical Bat Fly

A bizarre wingless bat fly with extremely long spider-like legs and a flattened body. It is a specialist parasite of fruit bats in tropical Asia.

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Did You Know?

Its legs are so long relative to its body that it can crawl rapidly through bat fur while maintaining grip during flight.

Giant Japygid

One of the larger diplurans, found in deep soil and caves in southern Europe. It is a voracious predator of other soil invertebrates.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few diplurans large enough to be visible to the naked eye without magnification.