Abstract
Armadilloofficinalis Duméril, 1816 (Armadillidae) is a widespread terrestrial isopod species in the Mediterranean basin and on the western coasts of the Black Sea. The species is adapted to live in xeric environments and has mainly nocturnal habits. This species is capable of producing stridulations, which is nowadays recognized as a synapomorphy of the genus. In both sexes, these vibrations are produced by a line of scales on the propodus of pereopod 4 and 5. The main goals of this study are: to describe the manca stages of Armadilloofficinalis; to detect the presence of the stridulatory apparatus in the manca stages; to evaluate the differences of such apparatus in the various manca stages. The manca stages (I, II, III) of Armadilloofficinalis are described for the first time showing: i, the shortest duration (known in literature) of the manca stage I (approximately 30 minutes); ii, the presence of a rudimental stridulatory organ that may be of great importance in terms of evolutionary aspects and adaptation to terrestrial life. Notes on the reproductive biology are also reported. Furthermore, some considerations on future perspectives for A.officinalis as a model species in biotremology are also discussed.
Highlights
Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 is a species of terrestrial isopod (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) belonging to the family Armadillidae
The number of setae in pereopods increased from M I to M III; pereopod 1 shows a well-defined hairy area on carpus from manca stage M II, pereopods 4 and 5 propodus show a line of scales in the three manca stages, but the number of the scales and their distance on the sternal margin of propodus varies distinctly; pereopods 7 are absent in the first manca stage, there are hints in the second stage, and they are fully developed but ventrally folded in the third manca stage
The present study has shown the presence of the stridulatory apparatus, even in A. officinalis early stages of development, which is an absolutely new issue for the taxon Oniscidea
Summary
Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 is a species of terrestrial isopod (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) belonging to the family Armadillidae. As defined by Schmalfuss (1996), the species of this genus bear, in both sexes, a line of scales on the propodus of the fourth and fifth pereopod, used for stridulation This stridulatory apparatus was first observed by Verhoeff (1908) on specimens of A. officinalis, but only 70 years later it was described by Caruso and Costa (1976). In addition to this line of scales, the plectrum, there are areas, the so-called pars stridens, located on the internal surface of the pereon epimera, consisting of several slightly rounded ridges The above-mentioned studies do not report whether the stridulatory apparatus appears in the first stages of the post-embryonic development, or later in the juveniles, or if the character is present only in the adults
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