Springtail

About the Springtail

Among the most abundant animals on Earth - up to 100,000 per square meter of soil. They are not technically insects but hexapods. They jump using a forked appendage (furcula) folded under their body that snaps downward. They can jump 100x their body length. They are found on every continent including Antarctica. Over 8,000 species. They play critical roles in soil decomposition and nutrient cycling. They are among the first organisms to colonize new habitats. They can survive extreme conditions including radiation levels that kill most animals. Some species live on the surface of water.