Cubaris murina

Cubaris murina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Isopoda
Suborder:	Oniscidea
Family:	Armadillidae
Genus:	Cubaris
Species:	C. murina
Binomial name
Cubaris murina Brandt, 1833

Cubaris murina, commonly known as the little sea isopod or little sea roly poly, is a species of woodlouse in the family Armadillidae. It is found in North America, Africa, South America, Australasia, tropical Asia, and the Pacific Ocean. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

Cubaris murina may reach a length of 11 millimeters and a width of 5 millimeters. ^[4] It is capable of rolling into a ball when disturbed; this ability is known as conglobation.

Distribution

C. murina is known to occur in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Saint Thomas Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Oahu, in North America; Brazil and Cayenne, French Guiana in South America; the Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean, and Sumatra, Indonesia, in Southeast Asia. ^[4] It is possible that the species was introduced to the Americas from Asia. ^[5]

As pets

Cubaris murina has become popular as a pet in the exotic animal hobby, They work great in vivariums and are much cheaper than rubber ducky isopods, (cubaris SP.) They have practical applications in improving the health of terrariums by serving as a bioactive clean-up crew, and are also valued for the attractive appearance of some of its color morphs (slang for observed polymorphism). Known morphs of Cubaris murina in hobbyist collections include:

• Papaya - A dull pink variety that is believed by some to be the expression of some form of albinism
• Glacier - An almost completely white variety with white eyes, legs, and antennae
• Anemone - A variety with a calico or speckled visual pattern of orange and grey
• Florida Orange - An orange variety isolated from a few wild caught individuals in Florida, ^[6] which gives them their name

References

1. "Cubaris murina Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
2. "Cubaris murina". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
3. "Cubaris murina species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
4. Richardson, Harriet (1905). A Monograph on the Isopods of North America. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 645. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
5. Leistkow, Andreas; Wägele, J. Wolfgang (March 1999). "Checklist of the terrestrial isopods of the new world (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 16: 53. doi: 10.1590/S0101-81751999000100001 . Retrieved 26 February 2024– via ResearchGate.
6. "A Guide to the Cubaris Murina "Florida Orange"". The Great Invertebrate. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.