oniscidean

English

an oniscidean, Oniscus asellus

Etymology

Oniscidea +‎ -an

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”, in 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