Paratarsotomus macropalpis
| Paratarsotomus macropalpis | |
|---|---|
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| Details of a large palp (centre), which is the species' distinguishing feature. Also shown are a tarsal claw (right) and the mandibles (bottom left). | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Subclass: | Acari |
| Order: | Trombidiformes |
| Family: | Anystidae |
| Genus: | Paratarsotomus |
| Species: | P. macropalpis |
| Binomial name | |
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Paratarsotomus macropalpis (Banks, 1916) |
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Paratarsotomus macropalpis is a species of mite belonging to the family Anystidae. The mite is endemic to Southern California 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.
A specimen was first collected by William A. Hilton from beneath stones in Claremont, California. It was classified and named as Tarsotomus macropalpis by Nathan Banks whose report in 1916 was
A large species, rather sparsely bristly. Body nearly twice as long as broad, broadest at humeri; cephalothorax tapering in front, one eye spot each side close to margin and much nearer hind than front end of cephalothorax: legs long, but none of the femora as long as the cephalothorax, the tibia (penultimate joint), however, as long as the cephalothorax; body and legs with erect bristles, only a few very long ones, some on the basal joints are serrate or hairy, and the outer frontal pair, which are thicker than the others, also hairy. Claws with rows of bristles beneath; palpi very large and heavy, with two apical claws, the large one with a few teeth on inner side, hairs of thumb very short.
The mite has been recorded at a speed of 322 body lengths per second (0.225 metres per second (0.50 mph)). This is far in excess of the previous record holder, the Australian tiger beetle Cicindela eburneola, the fastest insect in the world relative to body size, which has been recorded at 1.86 metres per second (4.2 mph) or 171 body lengths per second. The cheetah, the fastest land animal, which has been clocked at a peak of 64 mph (103 km/h), 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 1,300 mph (2,100 km/h).
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