Technical Sheet: Isopod Armadillidium peraccae
Scientific Name: Armadillidium peraccae
Family: Armadillidiidae
Order: Isopoda
Class: Malacostraca
Geographic Distribution:
- Main Region: Mediterranean
- Habitat: Found in humid terrestrial environments, such as soil, leaf litter, and areas with high moisture.
Description:
- Size: Typically measures between 10 and 15 mm in length.
- Coloration: Varies, but usually appears in shades of gray or brown, with some parts of the body possibly showing a whitish tint.
- Body Structure: The body is flat and oval-shaped, with segmented armor that allows it to roll into a ball as a defense mechanism, similar to other isopods in the Armadillidium genus.
Behavior:
- Habits: Mainly nocturnal and with subterranean behavior, which helps it retain moisture and protect itself from predators.
- Diet: Detritivore, feeding on decomposing organic matter such as dead leaves and plant debris.
Reproduction:
- Reproduction Method: Sexual.
- Development: Oviparous; the female lays eggs, which are incubated in a ventral pouch (marsupium) until the young are ready to hatch.
Ecology:
- Role in the Ecosystem: Plays an important role in the decomposition of organic matter and in soil structure. Contributes to soil fertility and the regulation of microorganisms.
