''Alaskozetes antarcticus'' is a species of non-parasitic

mite Mites are small arachnids (eight-legged arthropods) of two large orders, the Acariformes and the Parasitiformes, which were historically grouped together in the subclass Acari. However, most recent genetic analyses do not recover the two as eac ...

, known for its ability to survive in subzero temperatures. This animal's name derives from its

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

: ''Alasko'', meaning "from

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

", and ''antarcticus'', in connection with frigid conditions in which the mite lives. Scientists are unclear as to how ''Alaskozetes antarcticus'' has been able to adapt to an environment so different from those of other

arthropod Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthropod exoskeleton, exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin, often Mineralization (biology), mineralised with calcium carbonate, a body with differentiated (Metam ...

s. Whereas most arthropod species inhabit hot, moist environments, ''A. antarcticus'' survives in freezing conditions with almost no humidity. There are three subspecies: ''Alaskozetes antarcticus antarcticus'', ''Alaskozetes antarcticus grandjeani'', and ''Alaskozetes antarcticus intermedius''.

Diet

''Alaskozetes antarcticus'' eats moss, algae and fungi. These mites are not parasitic and do not suck blood. They are harmless to humans and large organisms.

References

Sarcoptiformes Animals described in 1903 Fauna of Heard Island and McDonald Islands {{Sarcoptiformes-stub