Which Soil Organism Are You? Take Our Quiz to Find Out!

Our everyday language is full of animal metaphors: brave as a lion, slow as a sloth, stubborn as a mule. These comparisons come naturally to us, reflecting a long history of seeing animals as mirrors of our own traits and behaviours.

But what about the hidden world beneath our feet? How familiar are we with the countless organisms that bring soil to life? It's time to shine a light on this often-overlooked universe. To get you started, the SOB4ES team has created a fun and engaging quiz to help you discover which soil organism you resemble most. While some of these creatures may already sound familiar, many more are waiting to be uncovered.

Take the quiz to meet your soil-mate - and remember: just like life in the soil, we thrive on diversity.

• Snail

  Snails can famously retreat into their "house" (which technically is called a shell) and therefore don't need a specific nest or burrow - they are never without their home. This means you probably like being on the road, always ready for the next adventure.

• Spider

  Many spiders weave intricate webs in geometric patterns, which gained them a reputation for being creative. This means you are probably a sensitive artist, who is easily disturbed by a fly caught in your web.

• Isopod

  Isopods are the only crustaceans that live on land - and while they have adapted, they still rely on a moist environment. They can even absorb moisture through both their front and their rear end! Since you like to keep hydrated, this should come in handy.

• Ant

  Ants are eusocial, which means they live in large colonies from as few as a dozen to millions of individuals. This means you are probably not a loner, although I hope you don't mind giving up all individuality in service to your queen!

• Pseudoscorpion

  Pseudoscorpions are so small that people often mistake them for ticks or small spiders. But they are actually very useful to humans. These tiny predators hunt clothes moth larvae, carpet beetle larvae, booklice and small flies. This probably means that your efforts often go unnoticed.

• Centipedes

  Centipedes have many legs, one pair per segment with up to 191 pairs! Centipedes are predators and will take any smaller animal for a snack. This means you are probably watching your protein intake.

• Millipedes

  Millipedes have 2 pairs of legs per segment and feed on a smoothie of decomposing vegetation and organic matter mixed with soil. Just like a millipede, you probably enjoy drinking a smoothie before you hit the gym.

• Earthworms

  Earthworms are great recyclers. By pulling larger pieces of organic matter into their burrows, shredding and digesting them and turning them into nutrient-rich humus, they improve soil fertility. Earthworms are the hardworking ecosystem engineers of the soil world and - just like you - popular for a reason.

• Springtails

  Springtails are tiny predators, that come in a variety of shapes and sizes and many fun colours, like bright yellow and pink! This means you probably value self-expression over popularity and always go your own way.

• Mites

  While the most well-known mites are the parasitic tics, mites are a hugely diverse group, living as decomposers, predators or herbivores. This probably means that you are curious and like to explore different avenues instead of fitting into just one box.