|
Cochlodispus
''Cochlodispus'' is a genus of mites from the family Microdispidae. One member of the genus, '' Cochlodispus minimus'', is considered the smallest known mite species with a recorded adult body length of 79 μm (0.079 mm). Characteristics The Microdispidae are the least diverse family of pygmephoroid mites, with 20 described genera and about 120 species. Most members of the family are fungivores, although some may be parasitoids of insects. All 11 described species of ''Cochlodispus'' inhabit soil and litter. The type species, ''Cochlodispus cochleatus'', was originally designated ''Microdispus cochleatus'' by Sándor Mahunka in 1969. Three years later, Mahunka formally described ''Cochlodispus'' as a distinct genus. Species The genus ''Cochlodispus'' currently contains 11 species: * ''Cochlodispus africanus'' Mahunka, 1975 – described from Ethiopia * ''Cochlodispus chilensis'' Mahunka, 1972 – described from Chile * ''Cochlodispus cochleatus'' Mahunka, 1969 – descri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cochlodispus Minimus
''Cochlodispus minimus'' is a species of mite from the family Microdispidae, formally described by Sándor Mahunka in 1976. One adult individual was measured with a body length of 79 μm (0.079 mm), making it the smallest known mite species. It was originally described from Ethiopia, along with cogeners ''C. africanus'' and ''C. fimbrisetus'', and inhabits soil and litter. Taxonomy The Microdispidae are the least diverse family of pygmephoroid mites, with 20 described genera and about 120 species. Most members of this family are fungivores, although some may be parasitoids of insects. ''Cochlodispus minimus'' is one of 11 species currently described from the genus ''Cochlodispus''. It can be distinguished within its genus by the absence of barbs on setae ''ps2'' (a characteristic shared only with ''C. zanzibariensis'') and by the absence of barbs on setae ''f'' and on the setae of the anterior sternal plate (both distinctly barbed in ''C. zanzibariensis)''. See also * Smalle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smallest Organisms
The smallest organisms found on Earth can be determined according to various aspects of organism size, including volume, mass, height, length, or genome size. Given the incomplete nature of scientific knowledge, it is possible that the smallest organism is undiscovered. Furthermore, there is some debate over the definition of life, and what entities qualify as organisms; consequently the smallest known organisms (microrganisms) may be nanobes that can be 20 nanometers long. Microorganisms Obligate endosymbiotic bacteria The genome of '' Nasuia deltocephalinicola'', a symbiont of the European pest leafhopper, '' Macrosteles quadripunctulatus'', consists of a circular chromosome of 112,031 base pairs. The genome of '' Nanoarchaeum equitans'' is 491 Kbp nucleotides long. ''Pelagibacter ubique'' '' Pelagibacter ubique'' is one of the smallest known free-living bacteria, with a length of and an average cell diameter of . They also have the smallest free-living bacterium gen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mites
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 each other's closest relative within Arachnida, rendering the group invalid as a clade. Most mites are tiny, less than in length, and have a simple, unsegmented body plan. The small size of most species makes them easily overlooked; some species live in water, many live in soil as decomposers, others live on plants, sometimes creating galls, while others are Predation, predators or Parasitism, parasites. This last type includes the commercially destructive ''Varroa'' parasite of honey bees, as well as scabies mites of humans. Most species are harmless to humans, but a few are associated with allergies or may transmit diseases. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of mites is called acarology. Evolution and taxonomy Mites are not ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
