The Entomobryoidea is one of two superfamilies within the Arthropleona found in Australia. There are six families known to occur in Australia.

ONCOPODURIDAE

Code QA109999

Family of entomobryoid Collembola which are rare. Inhabitants of caves, soil and rotting logs. Not expected to occur often in aquatic samples. Generally isotomid in appearance. Invariably blind. Invariably white or light grey. Without a jumping organ.

TOMOCERIDAE

Code QA119999

Family of large and conspicuous entomobryoid Collembola, not common in Australia. Distinguished from other entomobryoids by the subsegmented dens.

ISOTOMIDAE

Code QA069999

Family of entomobryoid Collembola of widespread distribution. Body shape variable. Usually very unassuming, plain-looking animals without great development of the legs or antennae or furca, and without conspicuous setae or ornamentation. Body segments more or less flat dorsally. The family includes many damp-soil species and at least one truly aquatic species which is found under stones in Great Lake, Tasmania.

Some atypical species currently assigned to Isotomidae have obvious entomobryid/paronellid affinities while others resemble members of the brachystomellid/hypogastrurid complex. It appears likely the family Isotomidae as currently defined is paraphyletic, ie. in terms of evolutionary relationships certain other families are buried within it. Taxonomic revision would be warranted.

ENTOMOBRYIDAE

Code QA079999

Family of entomobryoid Collembola with long legs, long antennae and a large springing organ (furca). Dens noticeably curved. Mucro usually hook-like. Litter dwelling and of widespread distribution.

PARONELLIDAE

Code QA089999

Family of entomobryoid Collembola. Some species are marine littoral but most live on plants or in the leaf litter. Almost entirely restricted to humid tropical and cool temperate zones. Appearance very similar to Entomobryidae but the mucro short, not hook-like and the antennae often very long.

CYPHODERIDAE

Code QA099999

Family of entomobryoid Collembola. Inhabitants of ants nests and not expected to occur in aquatic samples. Entomobryoid in appearance but blind and with a long mucro.