''Paratarsotomus macropalpis'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

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 ...

belonging to the family Erythracaridae. The mite is endemic to

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

and is usually observed darting amongst sidewalks and in rocky areas. Earlier classified as belonging to genus '' Tarsotomus'', it was reclassified in 1999, along with four other species, to genus ''Paratarsotomus''. It is quite small—0.7 mm—but has been recorded as the world's fastest land animal relative to body length. __TOC__

Discovery

A specimen was first collected by William A. Hilton from beneath stones in

Claremont, California Claremont () is a suburban city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of Los Angeles. It lies in the Pomona Valley at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census it had ...

. It was classified and named as ''Tarsotomus macropalpis'' by Nathan Banks whose report in 1916 was

Speed record

The mite has been recorded at a speed of 322 body lengths per second (). This is far in excess of the previous record holder, the Australian

tiger beetle Tiger beetles are a family of beetles, Cicindelidae, known for their aggressive predatory habits and running speed. The fastest known species of tiger beetle, '' Rivacindela hudsoni'', can run at a speed of , or about 125 body lengths per second. ...

'' Rivacindela hudsoni'', the fastest insect in the world relative to body size, which has been recorded at or 171 body lengths per second. The

cheetah The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large Felidae, cat and the Fastest animals, fastest land animal. It has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots. The head is small and rounded, wit ...

, the fastest land animal, which has been clocked at a peak of , scores at only 16 body lengths per second. High speed photography was used to record the speed of the mite, both in natural conditions and in the laboratory. The equivalent speed for a human running as fast as this mite would be . ''P. macropalpis'' have an acceleration of 7.2 m/s², compared to 6 m/s² for the horse, 10 m/s² for the greyhound and 13 m/s² for the cheetah. Its deceleration values are of 10.1 m/s². Besides the unusually great speed of the mites, the researchers were surprised to find the mites running at such speeds on concrete at temperatures up to . This is significant because that temperature is well above the lethal limit for the majority of animal species. To withstand desiccation due to the high temperatures, the mites displays an extreme resistance to water loss. In addition, they are able to stop and change direction very quickly. The discovery pushes the limits of what is known about the physiology of animal movement and the limits on the speed of living structures. This finding is considered by the research team as opening new possibilities in the design of

robot A robot is a machine—especially one Computer program, programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions Automation, automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the robot control, co ...

s and in

biomimetics Biomimetics or biomimicry is the emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. The terms "biomimetics" and "biomimicry" are derived from (''bios''), life, and μίμησις (''mimes ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q16738508 Trombidiformes Endemic fauna of California Taxa named by Nathan Banks Fauna without expected TNC conservation status