Oribatida
Guides
Cepheoidea
Cepheoidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites within the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Berlese in 1896. The group is currently treated as a synonym of Cepheusoidea in modern classifications. Oribatid mites in this group are primarily soil-dwelling decomposers.
Cosmochthoniidae
Cosmochthoniidae is a family of oribatid mites in the superfamily Cosmochthonioidea, established by Grandjean in 1947. The family comprises approximately 6 genera and at least 40 described species, with Cosmochthonius being the most species-rich and widely studied genus. Members of this family are distributed across Mediterranean regions, parts of the former Soviet Union including Ukraine and Tajikistan, and northern Europe. The family belongs to the ancient mite group Enarthronota, characterized by primitive morphological features.
Desmonomata
Desmonomata is an infraorder of oribatid mites (beetle mites) within the suborder Oribatida. The group is notable for its exceptionally high incidence of thelytokous parthenogenesis: four of seven families are completely female-producing, and a fifth is nearly so. This reproductive mode appears obligate and ancient, with speciation and evolutionary radiation having occurred without biparental reproduction.
Galumna
Galumna is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Galumnidae, established by Heyden in 1826. The genus contains over 160 accepted species, with a small number organized under subgenera. These mites are part of the diverse soil-dwelling oribatid fauna that plays important roles in decomposition processes.
Gymnodamaeus
Gymnodamaeus is a genus of oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) in the family Gymnodamaeidae, first described by Kulczynski in 1902. The genus contains multiple species distributed across various regions, with recent taxonomic work describing new species from Austria. As members of the diverse oribatid mite fauna, these mites contribute to soil ecosystem processes. The genus is classified within the superfamily Gymnodamaeoidea.
Hermannia
Hermannia is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Hermanniidae, established by Nicolet in 1855. These mites are characterized by a stocky body form and distinctive gastronotal setal ontogeny. The genus has a holarctic distribution with species found in arctic tundra, temperate forests, and Mediterranean regions. Several species have been well-studied including H. scabra, H. reticulata, and H. gibba, with research focusing on morphological development, population ecology, and symbiotic microorganisms.
Hydrozetidae
Hydrozetidae is a family of aquatic oribatid mites (water mites) within the order Oribatida, established by Grandjean in 1954. The family contains at least one genus, Hydrozetes, with at least 20 described species. These mites are distinguished by adaptations to freshwater habitats, including a reduced bothridium lacking a sensillus, monodactylous legs, and the absence of pteromorphae. Fossil evidence from the Late Paleocene of Canada demonstrates the family's ancient aquatic association with submerged vegetation.
Micreremidae
Micreremidae is a family of oribatid mites comprising at least 4 genera and approximately 14 described species. The family is placed in the superfamily Licneremaeoidea. Known genera include Micreremus, Fenichelia, Mexiceremus, and Phylloribatula. Records indicate arboreal associations, with some species collected from tree branches in tropical forests.
Mochlozetidae
Mochlozetidae is a family of oribatid mites (beetle mites) in the order Sarcoptiformes, established by Grandjean in 1960. The family comprises approximately 12 genera and at least 50 described species. These mites are classified within the superfamily Oripodoidea and the group Poronoticae. They are part of the diverse soil-dwelling microarthropod fauna that contributes to decomposition processes.
Oppiidae
Oppiidae is a large and diverse family of oribatid mites comprising over 1000 described species. These microarthropods inhabit soil and litter layers across varied terrestrial ecosystems worldwide, from coastal sands to forest floors and grasslands. The family is taxonomically complex with numerous genera, many of which have restricted distributions or are poorly studied in particular regions such as Mongolia and Korea.
Phthiracaridae
Phthiracaridae is a family of ptyctimous oribatid mites within the superfamily Phthiracaroidea. The family comprises approximately 7 genera and at least 710 described species, making it one of the largest families of Euptyctima. Members are characterized by a retractable idiosoma (ptychoidy), a defensive adaptation where the body can fold to protect legs and mouthparts. The family has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.
Phthiracaroidea
ptyctimous mites
Phthiracaroidea is a superfamily of oribatid mites (ptyctimous mites) characterized by a unique defensive mechanism: the ability to retract their legs and chelicerae into a protective cavity and close the body using a ventral scissure. The group includes families Phthiracaridae, Synichotritiidae, and related taxa. Members are primarily soil-dwelling decomposers found in leaf litter and humus across diverse geographic regions including the Palearctic and Southeast Asia.
Phthiracarus
Phthiracarus is the second largest genus of ptyctimous mites (Euptyctima), with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The genus belongs to the family Phthiracaridae within the oribatid mites (Oribatida), a diverse group of soil-dwelling arachnids. Species in this genus are primarily found in temperate forest soils and are associated with decomposition processes. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from previously understudied regions including Northeast China.
Trypogalumnella poronota
Trypogalumnella poronota is a species of oribatid mite in the family Galumnellidae, described by Mahunka in 1995. Oribatid mites of this family are soil-dwelling microarthropods, commonly known as beetle mites or moss mites. The species belongs to the superfamily Galumnoidea, characterized by specific morphological adaptations for life in soil and leaf litter environments. No observations of this species have been recorded in public databases.