Machilidae
- noun
- /məˈkɪlɪˌdeɪ/
- Specialized
- The family Machilidae includes several species of jumping bristletails found in leaf litter and under stones.
Examples
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Scientists discovered a new species within the Machilidae during their fieldwork in the forest.
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The family of insects known as Machilidae is often seen in moist areas like forests and gardens.
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Because Machilidae are sensitive to humidity, they are mostly found in damp habitats.
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The Machilidae are fascinating creatures.
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Did you know that Machilidae can jump?
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Researchers are studying the behavior of Machilidae to understand how these insects adapt to their environment.
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In nature, Machilidae play a role in the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter in leaf litter.
Synonyms
A small wingless insect that lives in dark, damp places like under logs and jumps when touched
A small insect without wings that has a long bristle tail
Surface Forms
Morphology
Machilidae = Machilis (opaque) = Machil + idae
Although taxonomic family names are regularly formed from a genus name plus '-idae', this convention is too specialized for most general English learners to infer reliably.
Etymology
Machilidae is the scientific name formed from the group name Machilis plus the ending -idae, which means 'family' in animal names, like Felidae for the cat family. So Machilidae simply means the 'Machilis family' — the family of small, jumping bristletails with long bodies and tail bristles.