Armadillidium sfenthourakisi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Family: Armadillidiidae
Genus: Armadillidium
Species:
A. sfenthourakisi
Binomial name
Armadillidium sfenthourakisi
Schmalfuss, 2008 [1][2]
Distribution of Armadillidium sfenthourakisi (in red)[1][3][4]

Armadillidium sfenthourakisi is a European species of woodlouse endemic to Greece.[2]

Taxonomy

Armadilliidum sfenthourakisi was described as a distinct species of Armadillidium in 2008, using specimens collected from the surroundings of Mount Olympus. Until now, its true affinities aren't known, but, based on the shape of the telson, it is speculated that its closest relatives are the members of the Western Greek "Armadillidium jonicum-group" (A. jonicum and A. epiroticum).[1]

Description

Armadillidium sfenthourakisi is a medium to large sized species, reaching maximum dimensions of about 17 x 6.7 mm. Its tergites are covered with granulations and the coloration of the body is uniformly blackish-gray in adults and brownish in juveniles. The frontal shield surpasses the anterior edge of the head, has a straight upper margin and obtuse lateral corners. The secondary antennae are very slender, with triangular lobes and the flagellum articles are of about the same length. The hind margins of the first pair of epimera are obtuse-angled. The telson is distinctly longer than wide and has straight sides and a broadly rounded tip.[1]

Concerning the sexual characters of the male, the first pereiopod has a brush of short spines on the carpus and the seventh pereiopod a ventrally straight ischium. The latter, has a distal hair-field at its apical part. The posterior lobe of the exopodite of the first pleopod is triangular and the apex of the endopodite is straight .[1]

Distribution

Armadillidium sfenthourakisi is endemic to Pieria and Larissa. Specifically, until now, the species has been found only in the regions surrounding and encompassing Mount Olympus in Pieria and the Vale of Tempe in Larissa.[1][3][4]

Ecology

Armadillidium sfenthourakisi specimens have been collected from two types of habitat: mixed forests and maquis.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Helmut Schmalfuss (2008). "The terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) of Greece. 25th contribution: The genus Armadillidium (Armadillidiidae) in the provinces Macedonia and Thrace". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie A, Neue Serie. 1: 49 pp.
  2. 1 2 "Armadillidium sfenthourakisi". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.
  3. 1 2 Helmut Schmalfuss (2012). "The terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) of Greece. 28th contribution: The genus Armadillidium (Armadillidiidae) on the central Greek mainland". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie A, Neue Serie. 5: 29 pp.
  4. 1 2 Helmut Schmalfuss (2013). "The species of the genus Armadillidium (Isopoda: Oniscidea) known from Greece". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie A, Neue Serie. 6: 8 pp.
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