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Move over, Simone Biles. The title of nature’s most impressive backflip artist might now go to the tiny globular springtail (Dicyrtomina minuta), a minuscule creature measuring just a millimeter in size and capable of extraordinary leaps.
According to a study published on August 29 in Integrative Organismal Biology, this remarkable arthropod can leap up to 60 millimeters into the air, executing rapid spins at an astonishing rate of up to 368 revolutions per second. However, their impressive acrobatics are fleeting, with each jump lasting a mere 161 milliseconds.
Biologist Adrian Smith from North Carolina State University describes the globular springtail as unparalleled in its ability to perform backflips, stating, “Nothing on Earth does a backflip faster than a globular springtail.” He adds a personal note, mentioning that the springtails used in the research are sourced from his own backyard.
To fully understand the mechanics behind the springtail’s backflips, researchers employed high-speed cameras, revealing some fascinating insights: upon launch, a springtail accelerates at a velocity of up to 1.5 meters per second, completing an impressive 29 spins in the blink of an eye.
Smith highlights the advantage of their rapid jumps, indicating that such agility helps them evade predators effectively. He and biomechanist Jacob Harrison from Georgia Tech scrutinized high-speed footage of numerous springtails during their ascent and descent to uncover the techniques behind these dramatic escapes.
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The jumping process initiates with a sudden thump, attributable to the springtail releasing a spring-loaded appendage known as the furca from its abdomen. This release thrusts the creature backward at an average speed of 1.5 meters per second. While in midair, springtails exhibit their remarkable spinning abilities, rotating between 14 and 29 times.
Not all landings are graceful; some springtails may crash down and bounce until they stabilize. However, many successfully regain their footing through the use of a sticky tube, typically employed for grooming. Smith notes, “It’s a sort of anchor that pulls them to their feet so they can get on with their day.”
Smith believes that the discovery of such feats in common backyard organisms illustrates the extraordinary capabilities present in everyday nature, challenging the perception that excitement in the natural world is confined to exotic locations or ancient fossils.
Source
www.sciencenews.org