click image to see the next water mite

The females of Arrenurus lack the tail. The structure of the skin is visible. These mites show colours from grey to brown and blue.

Water mites ancestors were land dwelling. They don't posses any gills. But they are well adapted to a life under water. They have trachaea, a system of very fine tubes that transport the oxygen throughout the body (like insects have). The ends of the tubes are covered with a thin membrane so oxygen can be extracted from the water by diffusion.

to first page on water mites