- Asellus aquaticus
Taxobox | name = "Asellus aquaticus"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
subphylum = Crustacea
classis =Malacostraca
ordo =Isopoda
familia =Asellidae
genus = "Asellus"
species = ""'A. aquaticus"
binomial = "Asellus aquaticus"
binomial_authority = (Linaeus, 1758)"Asellus aquaticus" is a freshwater
crustacean resembling awoodlouse . It is known by many common names including "waterlouse", "aquatic sowbug" and "water hoglouse".Ecology
"Asellus aquaticus" is common throughout the
temperate zone includingEurope ,Russia , andNorth America .Maltby L. (1991). Pollution as a Probe of Life-History Adaptation in "Asellus aquaticus" (Isopoda). Oikos, 61(1), pp. 11-18.] "Asellus aquaticus" is found inriver s,stream s andstanding water particularly where there are plenty of stones under which it hides although not where the water is strongly acidic.B. Whitton (1982). "Rivers, Lakes and Marshes" p 131. Hodder & Staughton, London.] It isomnivorous .B. Whitton (1982). "Rivers, Lakes and Marshes" p 131. Hodder & Staughton, London.]"Asellus aquaticus" relatively tolerant of a range of
pollutant s and has been used as an indicator ofwater quality .Maltby L. (1991). Pollution as a Probe of Life-History Adaptation in "Asellus aquaticus" (Isopoda). Oikos, 61(1), pp. 11-18.]Reproduction
In spring, females carry eggs in brood pouches underneath her body.Sterry, P. (1997). "Complete British Wildlife" p 212. Collins. ISBN 0-5833-3638-8] .
Conservation
A number of
subspecies are considered to be endangered including:
*"Asellus aquaticus carniolicus", endemic to Slovenia.Sket, B. (1996). "Asellus aquaticus" ssp. "carniolicus". [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/2157/dist 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species] .]
*"Asellus aquaticus cavernicolus" found only inItaly andSlovenia .Sket, B. (1996). "Asellus aquaticus" ssp. "cavernicolus". [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/2158/dist 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species] .]
*"Asellus aquaticus cyclobranchialis", endemic to Slovenia.Sket, B. (1996). "Asellus aquaticus" ssp. "cyclobranchialis". [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/2159/dist 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species] .]References
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