Belgica antarctica
Encyclopedia
Belgica antarctica is a species of flightless midge
Midge (insect)
Midges comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies found world-wide. The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group, but includes animals in several families of Nematoceran Diptera. While some midges are vectors for disease, many others play useful roles as prey items for...

 endemic to the continent of Antarctica. At 2–6 mm long, it is the largest purely terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...

 on the continent, as well as its only true insect. Its flightlessness may be an adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....

to prevent wind from blowing it into inhospitable sites. It can survive the freezing of its body fluids and has a life span of two years, with the two growing seasons it is able to accumulate the energy needed to reproduce. With its deep purplish black coloration it is able to absorb heat to survive. It is also able to tolerate large changes in salinity and pH and can survive without oxygen for 2-4 weeks. Belgica antarctica can survive dehydration up to 35% of its normal original body weight.
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