Armadillidium depressum

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Armadillidium depressum
Giving me a trilobite stare (752924951).jpg
Armadillidium depressum specimen photographed in Oxford, UK.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Family: Armadillidiidae
Genus: Armadillidium
Species:
A. depressum
Binomial name
Armadillidium depressum
Brandt, 1833  [1]
Range of Armadillidium depressum.png
Range [2] [3]
Synonyms   [4]

Armadillidium gerstaeckeriArmadillidium virescens

Armadillidium depressum, the southern pill woodlouse [5] is a large, relatively common British species of woodlouse characterized by its "splayed" appearance.

Contents

Description

Armadillidium depressum may reach a length of 20 millimetres (0.71 in) compared to 18 millimetres for Armadillidium vulgare , and is capable of rolling into a ball when disturbed. Like Armadillidium nasatum , it can be distinguished from Armadillidium vulgare by the gap it leaves when enrolled, instead of completely enclosing. [2] [6] Another distinguishing feature is that its pleon curve outwards, causing a splayed appearance. Otherwise, the appearance of A. depressum is very similar to A. vulgare in dark grey to black color. [2] [5]

Armadillidium depressum maximum length is 20 millimetres, compared to A. vulgare 18 millimetres. [2]

Ecology

Like other woodlice, Armadillidium depressum feeds on dead plant matter, and lives for 3 years. [5] A. depressum can be seen all year long. [5]

Distribution

The majority of specimens of Armadillidium depressum are concentrated in southwest Britain, near the English Channel, but small populations also occur in various towns scattered throughout England. [2] It is a synanthropic species, living on walls and under stones in towns and old houses. [2] [5] C

References

  1. "Armadillidium depressum Brandt, 1833". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Armadillidium depressum Brandt, 1833
  3. "Discover | Natural History Museum". Archived from the original on 3 August 2012.
  4. Helmut Schmalfuss (2003). "World catalog of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) — revised and updated version" (PDF). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie A. 654: 341 pp. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Southern Pill Woodlouse
  6. "Armadillidium depressum".