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Quiz about Collembola What the heck are they

Collembola - What the heck are they? Quiz

Well, I'll tell you, Collembola are very small six-legged arthropods that are found nearly everywhere on earth, but rarely noticed. See how many of these facts you know (or can guess) about Collembola.

A multiple-choice quiz by TheEnto. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
TheEnto

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
305,466

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
479

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following best describes the taxonomic status of the Collembola? Hint

Insecta

Entognatha

Both

Neither

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Question 2 of 10

2. Collembola are perhaps better known by their common name. What is it? Hint

Silverfish

Springtails

Slugbugs

Slingbacks

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Question 3 of 10

3. Collembola contain a few morphological structures that are unique in the animal kingdom. These structures are the: Hint

mandible, ocelli, ytterbium

furcula, retinaculum, collophore

galea, cardo, staves

cuticle, palpiger, mushroom body

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Question 4 of 10

4. One species of springtail is a documented agricultural pest. What is it? Hint

Lucerne Flea

Oriental Rat Flea

Snow Flea

Poppy Skeletonizer

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Question 5 of 10

5. Collembola are unlike other insect-like animals in the number of abdominal segment they possess. How many do they have? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. With regard to collembola, what's so special about the Rhynie chert of Scotland? Hint

They are the only organism's that can digest Rhynie chert.

Almost 90% of the world's springtails are found there.

The oldest terrestrial arthropod fossil ever found (of a springtail) was from there.

The first and only World Congress on Collembola was held there.

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Question 7 of 10

7. What scientific name was given to the oldest fossil known of a springtail? Hint

Rhynieaesta brassicae

Rhynora anteceta

Rhynieaetta flora

Rhyniella praecursor

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Question 8 of 10

8. One of these is not a family in the Collembola: Hint

Sminthuridae

Tomoceridae

Isotomidae

Lepismatidae

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these hexapod orders are the Collembola most closely related to? Hint

Odonata

Diplura

Blattodea

Hymenoptera

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Question 10 of 10

10. Collembola have been implicated in cases of delusory parasitosis.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following best describes the taxonomic status of the Collembola?

Answer: Entognatha

Until recently, Collembola were considered insects. DNA evidence now suggests they are more closely related to the Crustacea, and the hexapodous (six-legged) condition is a case of convergent evolution.

2. Collembola are perhaps better known by their common name. What is it?

Answer: Springtails

Springtails have morphological features that give them the ability to jump (spring) into the air, many times their own height.

3. Collembola contain a few morphological structures that are unique in the animal kingdom. These structures are the:

Answer: furcula, retinaculum, collophore

The furcula folds beneath the body, secured by the tenaculum. When released, the Collembola "springs" (jumps), hence the common name. The collophore is a peg-like structure of poorly understood function.

4. One species of springtail is a documented agricultural pest. What is it?

Answer: Lucerne Flea

The Lucerne flea, Sminthuris viridis has been shown to cause severe damage to agricultural crops and is considered as a pest in Australia.

5. Collembola are unlike other insect-like animals in the number of abdominal segment they possess. How many do they have?

Answer: 6

Most insects have 9 or 10. The condition of having only 6 is highly unusual; most other non-insect arthropods (millipedes, for example) have many more than 9 or 10 body segments.

6. With regard to collembola, what's so special about the Rhynie chert of Scotland?

Answer: The oldest terrestrial arthropod fossil ever found (of a springtail) was from there.

This fossil is more than 400 million years old, making it the oldest of all arthropod fossils.

7. What scientific name was given to the oldest fossil known of a springtail?

Answer: Rhyniella praecursor

"Precursor", meaning before. I just made the rest of them up.

8. One of these is not a family in the Collembola:

Answer: Lepismatidae

Weird names huh? Lepismatidae are silverfish. Sminthurids are globular sprintails, Isotomids and Tomocerids are more elongate.

9. Which of these hexapod orders are the Collembola most closely related to?

Answer: Diplura

Along with the Protura, these three taxa are now considered the "entognathous hexapods", not true insects. Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are considered the most primitive of the winged insect orders. Blattodea (cockroaches) represent a more advanced, but still relatively primitive, order of insects. Hymenoptera (bees, ants, and wasps) are considered by many to be the most advanced order of insects.

10. Collembola have been implicated in cases of delusory parasitosis.

Answer: True

Sufferers have a strong delusional belief that they are infested with parasites, whereas in reality no such parasites are present.

Source: Author TheEnto

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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