| Springtails
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| Scientific classification
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| Families
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Suborder Arthropleona
Superfamily Entomobryoidea
Entomobryidae - slender springtails
Isotomidae - smooth springtails
Oncopoduridae
Paronellidae
Tomoceridae
Superfamily Poduroidea
Brachystomellidae
Hypogastruridae - elongate-bodied springtails
Neanuridae
Odontellidae
Onychiuridae - blind springtails
Poduridae - water springtails
Suborder Symphypleona
Dicyrtomidae
Katiannidae
Sminthuridae - globular springtails
Sminthurididae
Bourletiellidae
Arrhopalitidae
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Springtails (Order Collembola) form the largest of the three orders of modern Hexapods that are no longer considered to be insects (along with the Protura and Diplura). The three orders are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouth parts, but they do not appear to be more closely related to one another than they do to the insects, which have external mouthparts. Recent genetic studies suggest that the Collembola are a separate evolutionary line from the other Hexapoda.
Members of Collembola are normally less than 6 mm in length, have six or fewer abdominal segments and possess a tubular appendage (the collophore) in the first abdominal segment. An abdominal, tail-like appendage, called the furcula, is present in most species and is folded beneath the body, to be used for jumping when the animal is threatened.
Springtails are frequently found in leaf litter and other decaying material.
The suborder Arthropleona has an elongated body in contrast to the globular body of the Symphypleona.
Reference
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