古口目（Archaeognatha）這個名稱源自希臘語 ἀρχαῖος（archaios），意為「古老」，和 γνάθος（gnathos），意為「下顎」。這指的是它們的下顎關節，與其他昆蟲不同。它是最原始的昆蟲之一（起源於3.9億年前）。

The name Archaeognatha is derived from the Greek ἀρχαῖος, archaios, meaning 'ancient', and γνάθος, gnathos, meaning 'jaw'. This refers to the articulation of the mandibles, which are different from those of other insects. It is one of the most primitive insects (origin 390 million years ago) 

種的俗名 Common names of members

石蛃

Jumping bristletails

分佈 Distribution  

除了南極洲外，分布於每個大洲。

Every continent except Antarctica

形態描述 Morphology

無翅

體型細長，背部弓形

長觸角

眼睛在頭頂相接

三個長尾狀結構，中間的更長

Wingless

Body elongated and back arched

Long antennae

Eyes meeting on the top of the head

Three long tail-like structures, with the middle one longer

生態與棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

森林（落葉層和石縫之間）及海岸。

Forest (leaf litter and among stones) and seashore

食性 Diet

藻類、苔蘚和地衣

Algae, Lichen, and Mosses

小知識 Fun Fact

它們進行求偶：雄性從腹部吐出一根絲，沿著絲線串包精子。在求偶舞蹈後，雌性拾取精子，立即使卵子受精，並在裂縫中產下約30個卵。

They present courtship: Male spins a thread from his abdomen and string packages of sperm along it. After a courtship dance, the female picks up the sperm, immediately fertilizes her eggs, and lays about 30 eggs in a crevice.

已知的物種 Total species known

500

博物館收藏的物種 Species in the collection

在香港已知的物種 Species in Hong Kong

2

Reference

• Archaeognatha Börner, 1904 in Döring M (2022). English Wikipedia - Species Pages. Wikimedia Foundation. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/c3kkgh accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-15.

• Christopher O'Toole (2002). Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders. ISBN 1-55297-612-2.

• Resh, V. H., Cardé, R. T. (2009). Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press.

• Wigglesworth, V. B. (2024, October 22). Insect | Definition, Characteristics, Types, Beneficial, pest, Classification, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/insect