English

An oniscidean, Oniscus asellus

Noun

oniscidean ‎(plural oniscideans)

1. (zoology) Any of the terrestrial isopod crustaceans of suborder Oniscidea; a woodlouse.
   • 1995, Patrick J. Walsh, Patricia A. Wright, Nitrogen Metabolism and Excretion, page 112,

     Nevertheless, these studies strongly suggest that arginine is not an essential amino acid in oniscideans.

   • 2006, Rok Kostanjšek, Jasna Štrus, Aleš Lapanje, Gorazd Avguštin, Maja Rupnik, Damjana Drobne, 5: Intestinal Microbiota of Terrestrial Isopods, Helmut König, Ajit Varma (editors), Intestinal Microorganisms of Termites and Other Invertebrates, page 116,

     The oniscidean digestive system has been extensively studied and well described in both slaters and sowbugs (Hames and Hopkin 1989; Štrus et al. 1995). […] Frequent moulting is an important characteristic of juvenile and adult oniscideans and is related to growth, renewal of the cuticle and reproduction in mature females.

   • 2008, George D. F. Wilson, Global diversity of Isopod crustaceans (Crustacea; Isopoda) in freshwater,

     Some oniscideans, which are ordinarily terrestrial, have re-invaded the continental saline waters (e.g. Haloniscus searlei) or even normal freshwater (e.g. Trichoniscidae and Styloniscidae).

Synonyms

• (any species of suborder Oniscidea): woodlouse
  • See also synonyms at woodlouse