Entomobryomorpha
Encyclopedia
The order
Entomobryomorpha are one of the three main groups of springtail
s (Collembola), tiny hexapods
related to insect
s. This group was formerly treated as a superfamily
Entomobryoidea.
They can be best distinguished from the other springtail groups by their body shape. The Symphypleona
are very round animals, almost spherical. The Poduromorpha
are also very plump but have a more oval shape. Entomobryomorpha, by contrast, contain the slimmest springtails. They either have short legs and antenna
e but their long body sets them apart, or long legs and antennae as well as a well-developed furcula
; these are the most characteristic members of the order.
(then called Poduroidea) in a group called "Arthropleona", but this has more recently turned out to be paraphyletic. Actually the Entomobryomorpha, the Poduromorpha, and the third springtaill lineage – the Symphypleona
– are equally distinct from each other. Their treatment at equal taxonomic rank
reflects this. Their rank has also varied a bit. When the springtails were still believed to be an order of insects, the "Arthropleona" and the Symphypleona were treated as suborders.
are arranged in the presumed evolution
ary sequence. The list presented here follows a 2008 review of the Entomobryomorpha. The review abolishes the former "Actaletoidea", which is apparently paraphyletic; its namesake family is now placed in the Isotomoidea, while the Coenaletidae form a new monotypic
superfamily. The former Cyphoderidae are demoted to a subfamily of the Paronellidae.
Superfamily Isotomoidea
Superfamily Coenaletoidea
Superfamily Tomoceroidea
Superfamily Entomobryoidea
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Entomobryomorpha are one of the three main groups of springtail
Springtail
Springtails form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects...
s (Collembola), tiny hexapods
Hexapoda
The subphylum Hexapoda constitutes the largest grouping of arthropods and includes the insects as well as three much smaller groups of wingless arthropods: Collembola, Protura, and Diplura . The Collembola are very abundant in terrestrial environments...
related to insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. This group was formerly treated as a superfamily
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
Entomobryoidea.
They can be best distinguished from the other springtail groups by their body shape. The Symphypleona
Symphypleona
The order Symphypleona is one of the three main groups of springtails , tiny hexapods related to insects. When the springtails were still believed to be an order of insects, the Symphypleona were ranked as a suborder....
are very round animals, almost spherical. The Poduromorpha
Poduromorpha
The order Poduromorpha is one of the three main groups of springtails , tiny hexapods related to insects. This group was formerly treated as a superfamily Poduroidea....
are also very plump but have a more oval shape. Entomobryomorpha, by contrast, contain the slimmest springtails. They either have short legs and antenna
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
e but their long body sets them apart, or long legs and antennae as well as a well-developed furcula
Furcula (Collembola)
The furcula, or furca, is a tail-like appendage shaped like a fork, found ventrally on the fourth abdominal segment of springtails. Present in most species dwelling the upper soil layers, it is used for jumping when the animal is threatened...
; these are the most characteristic members of the order.
Systematics
The Entomobryomorpha were, as Entomobryoidea, united with the PoduromorphaPoduromorpha
The order Poduromorpha is one of the three main groups of springtails , tiny hexapods related to insects. This group was formerly treated as a superfamily Poduroidea....
(then called Poduroidea) in a group called "Arthropleona", but this has more recently turned out to be paraphyletic. Actually the Entomobryomorpha, the Poduromorpha, and the third springtaill lineage – the Symphypleona
Symphypleona
The order Symphypleona is one of the three main groups of springtails , tiny hexapods related to insects. When the springtails were still believed to be an order of insects, the Symphypleona were ranked as a suborder....
– are equally distinct from each other. Their treatment at equal taxonomic rank
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
reflects this. Their rank has also varied a bit. When the springtails were still believed to be an order of insects, the "Arthropleona" and the Symphypleona were treated as suborders.
List of families
The superfamilies and familiesFamily (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
are arranged in the presumed evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
ary sequence. The list presented here follows a 2008 review of the Entomobryomorpha. The review abolishes the former "Actaletoidea", which is apparently paraphyletic; its namesake family is now placed in the Isotomoidea, while the Coenaletidae form a new monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
superfamily. The former Cyphoderidae are demoted to a subfamily of the Paronellidae.
Superfamily Isotomoidea
- Family IsotomidaeIsotomidaeIsotomidae is a family of springtails, comprising the following genera:*Aackia Yosii, 1966*Acanthomurus Womersley, 1934*Agrenia Börner, 1906*Antarcticinella Salmon, 1965*Antarctophorus Potapov, 1993*Anurophorus Nicolet, 1842...
- Family Actaletidae
- Family Protentomobryidae (fossilFossilFossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
)
Superfamily Coenaletoidea
- Family Coenaletidae
Superfamily Tomoceroidea
- Family Oncopoduridae
- Family Tomoceridae
Superfamily Entomobryoidea
Entomobryoidea
The Entomobryoidea are a superfamily of springtails , tiny hexapods related to insects. In the modern sense, this group is placed in an order called Entomobryomorpha.This superfamily contains very characteristic species of springtails...
- Family Paronellidae – includes Cyphoderidae
- Family EntomobryidaeEntomobryidaeThe family Entomobryidae contains the so-called "slender springtails", a group of springtails characterised as having an enlarged fourth abdominal segment and a well-developed furcula. Species in this family may be heavily scaled and can be very colourful...
- Family Microfalculidae
- Family Oncobryidae (fossil)
- Family Praentomobryidae (fossil)