Cubaris murina, commonly known as the little sea isopod or little sea roly poly, is a species of woodlouse in the family Armadillidae. It is found in North America, Africa, South America, Australasia, tropical Asia, and the Pacific Ocean.[1][2][3]
| Cubaris murina | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Superorder: | Peracarida |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Suborder: | Oniscidea |
| Family: | Armadillidae |
| Genus: | Cubaris |
| Species: | C. murina
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| Binomial name | |
| Cubaris murina Brandt, 1833
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Description edit
Cubaris murina may reach a length of 11 millimeters and a width of 5 millimeters.[4] It is capable of rolling into a ball when disturbed; this ability is known as conglobation.
Distribution edit
C. murina is known to occur in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Saint Thomas Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Oahu, in North America; Brazil and Cayenne, French Guiana in South America; the Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean, and Sumatra, Indonesia, in Southeast Asia. [4] It is possible that the species was introduced to the Americas from Asia.[5]
As pets edit
Cubaris murina has become popular as a pet in the exotic animal hobby. They have practical applications in improving the health of terrariums by serving as a bioactive clean-up crew, and are also valued for the attractive appearance of some of its color morphs (slang for observed polymorphism). Known morphs of Cubaris murina in hobbyist collections include:
- Papaya - A dull pink variety that is believed by some to be the expression of some form of albinism
- Glacier - An almost completely white variety with white eyes, legs, and antennae
- Anemone - A variety with a calico or speckled visual pattern of orange and grey
- Florida Orange - An orange variety isolated from a few wild caught individuals in Florida,[6] which gives them their name
References edit
- ^ "Cubaris murina Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Cubaris murina". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ "Cubaris murina species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ a b Richardson, Harriet (1905). A Monograph on the Isopods of North America. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 645. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Leistkow, Andreas; Wägele, J. Wolfgang (March 1999). "Checklist of the terrestrial isopods of the new world (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 16: 53. doi:10.1590/S0101-81751999000100001. Retrieved 26 February 2024 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ "A Guide to the Cubaris Murina "Florida Orange"". The Great Invertebrate. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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