Sphenodillo
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| Sphenodillo | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Suborder: | Oniscidea |
| Family: | Armadillidae |
| Genus: | Sphenodillo Lewis, 1998 |
| Type species | |
| Sphenodillo agnostos Lewis, 1998 | |
Sphenodillo is a genus of woodlice belonging to the family Armadillidae. This genus was described in 1998 by Fiona Lewis. The type specimen for this species is S. agnostos from Lord Howe Island.[1] There is currently one accepted species in this genus.
Remarks on similar genera
Sphenodillo are dark in colour with cream blotches allong their sides slightly above their epimera (side plates). They have short antennae. Their eyes have 17-18 ocelli. Their frontal lamina (face shield) has rounded rectangular lateral angles. They have endolobes (small, ventral lobe-like structures on the underside of the epimera) on the epimera of their first and second segments.They have a trianguar shaped section of raised bumps on their first tergite. All of their tergites have a line of raised bumps across the whole width. The epimera of the second to fourth pereon segements are rounded rectangular; the epimera of the fifth to seventh are rectangular and extend slightly backward. Their telson is hourglass shaped with a raised wedge-like keel. [1]
Although Emydodillo spp. have a similar keeled telson, they have a much slighter structure than that defining Sphenodillo. Emydodillo spp. have a high frontal lamina, lobes on their first to third epimera, and antennae with excentrically inserted flagellum. These characteristics separate it from Sphenodillo.[1]
Distribution
Sphenodillo isopods are endemic to Lord Howe Island and have only been found in small numbers.[2]
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