Dictionary > Armadillidiidae

Armadillidiidae

Definition
noun
A taxonomic family comprised of terrestrial woodlouse species that are identifiable chiefly by their ability to roll into a ball as a defense mechanism
Supplement
Armadillidiidae is a taxonomic family belonging to the suborder Oniscidea. Members of this family are known for their ability to roll into a sphere as a defensive mode, which is akin to the armadillos. Thus, they are commonly referred to as pill woodlice, roly-polies, leg pebbles, or potato bugs.
Armadillidium vulgare is one of the woodlouse species belonging to the family Armadillidiidae. This species is sometimes confused with a pill millipede since they seem to be morphologically similar (being segmented and are of the same size). They also share similar habitat and both can roll into a ball. However, the pill millipede (e.g. Glomeris marginata) has two pairs of legs in each of the body segment. The pillbug (similar to all isopods) has only a single pair of legs in a body segment.
Apart from Armadillidiidae, other genera of this family are Eleoniscus, Ballodillium, Trichodillidium, etc.
Scientific classification:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Subphylum: Crustacea
  • Class: Malacostraca
  • Order: Isopoda
  • Suborder: Oniscidea (Latreille, 1802)
  • Family: Armadillidiidae

Common name(s):

  • pill-bug
  • potato bug
  • pill woodlouse
  • roly-poly
  • doodle bug
  • carpenter

See also:


You will also like...

Evolution of Life - Ancient Earth
Evolution of Life – Ancient Earth

Autotrophs flourished, absorbing carbon and light. Soon after, primitive life forms that could assimilate oxygen thrived..

Freshwater Ecology
Freshwater Ecology

Freshwater ecology focuses on the relations of aquatic organisms to their freshwater habitats. There are two forms of co..

Cells in different stages of meiosis
Meiosis – The Genetics of Reproduction

Meiosis is a form of cell division that creates gametes. It is comprised of two divisions that in the end, the resulting..

Oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell
The Central Nervous System

Myelin sheath is essential for a faster conductivity of signals. Know more about this feature of some neurons in the Cen..

Biological Cell Defense
Biological Cell Defense

Organisms employ different strategies to boost its defenses against antigens. Humans have an immune system to combat pat..

The Human Physiology
The Human Physiology

Physiology is the study of how living organisms function. Thus, human physiology deals specifically with the physiologic..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics