Common Shiny Woodlouse
Oniscus asellus
Animalia
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 2-4 yrs
- Size
- Large
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Activity
- Nocturnal
- Social
- Colony
- Biome
- Temperate woodland
- Range
- Europe
- Movement
- Walking
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Armor
- Status
- Common
About
The common shiny woodlouse is a terrestrial isopod native to Europe, recognised by its glossy grey-brown shell edged with pale mottled patches. Unlike pill bugs, it cannot roll into a complete ball — when threatened it simply flattens itself and runs.
Life cycle
- 1.juvenileA juvenile crustacean takes adult form after its larval phase, growing in stages between molts.
- 2.adultFully grown at adult size and full hard shell.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Malacostraca
- Order
- Isopoda
- Family
- Oniscidae
- Genus
- Oniscus
- Species
- Oniscus asellus