Terrestrial-crustaceans
Guides
Armadillidae
Tropical Pill Woodlice, Pill Bugs
Armadillidae is the largest family of terrestrial isopods (woodlice), comprising approximately 80 genera and 700 species. Members are characterized by their ability to enroll into a complete sphere (conglobation), a defensive behavior that distinguishes them from most other woodlice families. The family exhibits a strongly convex body form adapted for this rolling behavior, with antennae fully enclosed within the sphere when enrolled—a key difference from the superficially similar family Armadillidiidae. Armadillids occupy diverse habitats across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with some species adapted to arid environments and others to cave systems.
Elumoides
Elumoides is a genus of terrestrial isopods in the family Eubelidae, established by Taiti and Ferrara in 1983. These woodlice belong to the suborder Oniscidea, representing a group of fully terrestrial crustaceans. The genus is part of the diverse isopod fauna found in tropical and subtropical regions.
Oniscidae
sow bugs, woodlice
Oniscidae is a family of terrestrial isopods (woodlice) within the suborder Oniscidea. The family includes the common woodlouse Oniscus asellus and at least six confirmed genera: Oniscus, Oroniscus, Phalloniscus, Rabdoniscus, Rodoniscus, and Sardoniscus. Members are detritivores that contribute to decomposition and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Some species exhibit behavioral sensitivity to environmental contaminants, suggesting potential use as bioindicators.
Porcellio
woodlice
Porcellio is a large genus of terrestrial isopods (woodlice) in the family Porcellionidae, containing approximately 191 described species with a near-cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes the well-studied common rough woodlouse (Porcellio scaber), which has served as a model organism for research on behavioral ecology, personality traits in invertebrates, and physiological processes such as ecdysis. Most species were described by 1950, though new species continue to be discovered. Members of this genus cannot conglobate (roll into a ball), distinguishing them from pill bugs in related genera.