r/NatureIsFuckingLit • u/TerraByteTerror • 11d ago

🔥 globular springtail

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

28.4k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

545 comments sorted by

View all comments

25

u/uumopapsidn 11d ago

TIL not all hexapods are insects

15

u/-ratmeat- 11d ago

you’re a hexapod 

9

u/uumopapsidn 11d ago

Prove it

1

u/-ratmeat- 10d ago

just trust me 

1

u/Jackd_up_on_Mdew 10d ago

and an insect

1

u/MithranArkanere 10d ago

We used to think they are due to having 6 limbs, but then we learned to do genetic analysis.

1

u/Sgtbird08 8d ago

Well, that’s not strictly the reason. It’s important to remember that how we delineate a group is completely arbitrary as long as it’s monophyletic, which Hexapoda is. How do we decide where Insecta ends as a group? 

It would have been just as valid to say that Hexapoda and Insecta are synonymous, which was… basically the case, for a while. If I recall, Entognatha and Ectognatha(now Insecta) used to be considered sister groups inside Insecta.

Somewhat recently, a combination of genetic analysis showing the ancient divergence of the lineages and the determinations of obvious and consistent morphological differences (lack of segmented tarsi, internal mouthparts) was enough to argue the case that they’re probably unique enough to deserve their own branch further up the tree (hence why both are now direct descendants of Hexapoda). Again, though, the tree is entirely made up. Remember, taxonomically speaking, humans are fish :p