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Animals Folklore

GIOLCAM-DAORUM

n. In Gaelic folklore, the smallest of all animals. Also known as a gigelorum. The only thing being known about it is that it lives in the ears of mites.

Image
Picture from Khaustov and Zelalem (2017)



At 79 µm, microdispid mites are the smallest known arthropods. The mite pictured lives as a hitchhiker on termites in Ethiopia (including on the termites “ears”).

And if anyone is curious, termites’ ears are just above their knees.

References

Khaustov, A.A., and W. Zelalem (2017) Two new genera of mite family Microdispidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Ethiopia. International Journal of Acarology 43: 223-231

Campbell, J.G. (1900) Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. James MacLehose and Sons, Glasgow. pg. 220