A study of Tasmanian Oniscoidea (Crustacea: Isopoda)

Abstract

The occurrence in Tasmania of seven of the eight species of Oniscoidea previously recorded is confirmed, and additional information on the species is given. Chiltonella tasmanica (Chilton) is transferred to Notoniscus Chilton. Six known species, Styloniscus thomsoni (Chilton), St. phormianus (Chilton), Notoniscus australis (Chilton), Deto marina (Chilton), Actaecia pallida Nicholls & Barnes, and Eluma caelatum (Miers) are recorded and described from Tasmania for the first time. Ten new species are established; one of these includes specimens which formerly were wrongly assigned to Oniscus punctatus Thomson. The position of the genera Styloniscus Dana, Notoniscus Chilton, Chiltonella Vandel, Plymophiloscia Wahrberg, Cubaris Brandt, S.S. after Verhoeff, and Sphaerillo Verhoeff is reviewed. A key to the families of Oniscoidea found in Tasmania is given; and, where necessary, a key to the genera in a family, or the species in a genus, is included in the section on the family or genus respectively.