Land-colonization

Guides

• Oniscidea

  Woodlice, Pillbugs, Rock Slaters

  Oniscidea is the suborder of terrestrial isopod crustaceans commonly known as woodlice, pillbugs, and rock slaters. This diverse group comprises over 5,000 described species that have successfully colonized land from ancestral marine isopod stock. They are characterized by a dorsoventrally flattened, segmented exoskeleton with seven pairs of walking legs, and occupy a wide range of habitats from forests and grasslands to caves and urban environments. Most species are nocturnal detritivores that play important roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling.

  terrestrial-isopodwoodlousepillbugdetritivoresoil-macrofaunacave-faunabioindicatorconglobationdirect-developmentnocturnalcrustaceanland-colonization