Entognatha

Question 1

Shared charactersitics

Answer 1

• Mouthparts enclosed
• Small size, typically 2-6 mm.
• Found in soil, leaf litter, and decaying wood.
• Primitive, ametabolous development (except proturans).
• Indirect sperm transfer and oviparous reproduction.

Question 2

Protura

Answer 2

• Lack eyes and antennae.
• Enlarged forelegs with sensory structures.
• Anamorphic development: abdominal segments added across initial 3 molts.
• Little-known biology, but feed on fungi.

Question 3

Collembola

Answer 3

• Globular to elongated bodies, usually without cerci.
• Furcula (tail structure) acts as a spring for jumping.
• Collophore (“glue peg”): for adhesion, grooming, osmoregulation.

Question 4

Diplura

Answer 4

• Elongated, unpigmented body, lacks eyes.
• Cerci may be long and filamentous or short and forceps-like.
• Some predatory, some plant material/fungi.
• Some exhibit parental care.