A new species of woodlouse (Isopoda, Oniscidea) from the Canarian laurel forest.

Abstract

A new species of terrestrial isopod, Porcellioaguerensis Orihuela-Rivero, sp. nov. of the family Porcellionidae (Oniscidea), is described from the laurel forest of Tenerife, Canary Islands. This new species belongs to the Atlantic group ("scaber") as defined by Vandel due to the structure of the male pleopod 1 and its "primitive" glandular system. Some diag-nostic characters that allow it to be differentiated from other species are revealed, such as (i) the smooth dorsal surface, (ii) the sinuosity of the posterior margin of the first pereonites, (iii) the configuration of the glandular system, and (iv) the structure of the male pleopod 1 exopod. The affinity of Porcellioaguerensis Orihuela-Rivero, sp. nov. with the morphologically closest members of the genus is discussed, both with continental and insular species, hypothesizing a relationship between the Canarian species of Porcellio and the "primitive" continental lineages of the genus. A key of the Porcellio species occurring in Tenerife is included. The conservation of Porcellioaguerensis Orihuela-Rivero, sp. nov. within a scenario of increasing dominance of invasive species is discussed.