Acerentomidae

Definition

A family of minute, pale, eyeless hexapods in the order Protura, distinguished from other proturan families by the absence of tracheae; respiration occurs entirely through the cuticle. Acerentomids inhabit soil and leaf-litter interstices worldwide and feed on fungal hyphae and decaying organic matter. The family contains the majority of described proturan species.

Etymology

Example

Acerentulus confinis, an acerentomid common in European woodland soils, lacks both tracheal systems and spiracles, relying instead on cuticular gas exchange typical of the family.

Related Terms

• Protura
• Eosentomidae
• Sinentomidae
• proturan
• Apterygote
• Edaphic
• cuticular respiration

Usage Notes

One of the three extant families of Protura; distinguished from Eosentomidae and Sinentomidae by tracheal absence and other cephalic and abdominal setal characters. Often the default family implied in general references to 'proturans' because of its species diversity.