Description
This group contains a number of small but conspicuous mites that can resemble tiny beetles/spiders or even seeds in having smooth, shiny bodies where the legs and head can be folded/retracted into the carapace to form a tiny smooth-surfaced oval/spheroid shape. Not all members of the Oribatidae are antomically like this however, and some resemble more typical mite bodies, but with elaborate feather-like setae on their bodies. Oribatidae mites can be quite abundant in mossy, wet environments too.
As can be seen from the list below, there are a great many families within the Oribatida!