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Protura

Protura

9.9
A tiny wingless animal that lives in soil and dead leaves
  • noun
  • /prəˈtʊərə/
  • Specialized
: Protura
  • The Protura are easily overlooked due to their minute size and lack of wings.

Examples

  • Soil scientists often study Protura to understand biodiversity within decaying leaf litter.

  • Researchers discovered several new species of Protura in the alpine forest soil.

  • Protura are fascinating creatures found in soil.

  • Many scientists study Protura to understand soil ecosystems.

  • Researchers discovered several new species of Protura in the alpine forest soil.

  • Soil scientists often study Protura to understand biodiversity within decaying leaf litter.

  • The Protura are easily overlooked due to their minute size and lack of wings.

Synonyms

order Protura
vsProtura
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of tiny wingless animals like very small insects that live in soil and leaf litter

notes their formal placement in the class Entognatha rather than calling them primitive

Compounds

order Protura
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of tiny wingless animals like very small insects that live in soil and leaf litter

Surface Forms

Protura singular
Protura plural

Etymology

The word Protura comes from the Greek parts proto- 'first' and -ura 'tail'. So, the name 'first tail' was given to these tiny, wingless soil animals because they were seen as very simple, early kinds of creatures, and the name helps you remember they are small, primitive soil dwellers.