Pseudolaureola atlantica, or the Spiky Yellow Woodlouse is a species of woodlouse endemic to St. Helena's High Peak.
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| Species: | P. atlantica
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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]
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.[5] 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. [6] Currently, there are approximately 100 known individuals on the island, after the discovery of approximately 40 to 100 individuals.[7]
The Spiky Yellow Woodlouse probably feeds on spores and pollen.[4]
The Spiky Yellow Woodlouse is 1 centimeter long.[2] It is bright yellow and covered in spines, and it has no visual dimorphism between the sexes.[4] Its bright coloration and spines are likely used to ward off potential predators it may encounter.[4]
References
edit- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Pseudolaureola atlantica (Vandel, 1977)".
- ^ a b "Spiky yellow woodlouse". Buglife. buglife.org.uk. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ^ Hayne, Tricia; Brit-Gallagher, Susan (2015). St Helena: Ascension. Tristan Da Cunha. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 45. ISBN 9781841629391.
- ^ a b c d Thorsen, Mike. "spikys". The Banzai Chicken Blog. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ^ "Rare woodlouse at risk from St Helena's quest to give us enough rope". The Guardian. December 8, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ "Spiky Yellow Woodlouse - St Helena National Trust". www.nationaltrust.org.sh. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Spiky yellow woodlouse – the global population doubles! - Saving Nature with Science - Our work - the RSPB Community".
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