Marine-detritivore

Guides

• Tylos punctatus

  Spotted Calloused Beach Pillbug

  Tylos punctatus is a large, strictly nocturnal sand-beach isopod inhabiting sheltered intertidal zones from southern California to Baja California. It exhibits remarkable behavioral adaptations to this harsh environment, including precise burrowing cycles synchronized with tidal patterns and seasonal dormancy. The species has an exceptionally slow life history for an isopod, with females breeding only once annually after reaching maturity at approximately three years of age.

  isopodwoodlousesand-beachintertidalnocturnalburrowingscavengersupralittoralCaliforniaBaja-Californiaslow-life-historysemelparoustidal-rhythmmarine-detritivorebioindicatorcopper-accumulation