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Other scientists later disputed this explanation of the collophore’s function.

In the 20th century, the most widely accepted functional explanation for the collophore — the only part of the springtail’s body that attracts water — was as a way to suck up nutrients.

He found that a springtail’s collophore was involved in all parts of the jump.

Dr. Ortega Jiménez said the springtails’ control largely came from their most distinctive and enigmatic feature, the collophore, a tube sticking out of their abdomens.

Chests out, the springtails landed, and the watery collophore gave them a more stable base and a sticky adherence to the surface.