- Belgica antarctica
Taxobox | name = "Belgica antarctica"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
subclassis =Pterygota
infraclassis =Neoptera
superordo =Endopterygota
ordo = Diptera
subordo =Nematocera
infraordo =Culicomorpha
superfamilia =Chironomoidea
familia =Chironomidae
genus = "Belgica"
species = "B. antarctica"
binomial = "Belgica antarctica"
binomial_authority = Jacobs, 1900"Belgica antarctica" is a species of flightless midge endemic to the continent of
Antarctica . At 12mm (1/2 inch) long, it is the largest purelyterrestrial animal on the continent. Its flightlessness may be anadaptation to prevent wind from blowing it into inhospitable sites.References
* [http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/education/antarcticbestiary_terrestrial.htm#Belgica Antarctic Bestiary] , from
Miami University research group.
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