Pseudolaureola atlantica
Species of woodlouse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pseudolaureola atlantica, the spiky yellow woodlouse, is a species of woodlouse endemic to St. Helena's High Peak.
| Pseudolaureola atlantica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Suborder: | Oniscidea |
| Family: | Armadillidae |
| Genus: | Pseudolaureola |
| Species: | P. atlantica |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudolaureola atlantica (Vandel, 1977)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Unlike woodlice that forage on the forest floor, the spiky yellow woodlouse inhabits the treetops of tree fern thickets and black cabbage tree woodland,[2] as well as black scale fern groves, found on Peaks National Park.[3] They have also been recorded inhabiting St. Helena redwood trees.[4] The spiky yellow woodlouse glows under UV light which has helped scientists locate them during population surveys at night.[5]
Its numbers are in decline due to introduced species such as rats and competition with foreign woodlice. Large scale flax farming is decimating the now-reduced black cabbage tree groves that it inhabits.[6] A captive breeding program was attempted but failed because of their need for very precise conditions, their focus has now changed from captive breeding to preservation of habitat. [7] As of 2017, the wild population is estimated to be approximately 980, much larger than previously thought. Researchers think this may be underestimate due to limitations in reaching there canopy habitat for surveys.[8]
Pseudolaureola atlantica probably feeds on spores and pollen.[4]
Pseudolaureola atlantica is 1 centimeter long.[2] It is bright yellow and covered in spines, and it has no visible dimorphism between the sexes.[4] Its bright coloration and spines are likely used to ward off potential predators it may encounter.[4]
