Biologia e biogeografia degli isopodi terrestri (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Terrestrial isopods (commonly called woodlice) belong to the suborder Oniscidea of the order Isopoda and represent the only group of Crustacea fully adapted to live on land. With more than 3,700 species presently known, they are the reachest suborder among the Isopoda. They originated from marine ancestors and represent a key taxon to study the conquest of the land among arthropods with unique morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations for terrestriality, such as the water conducting system to avoid dessiccation, the pleopodal lungs for aerial respiration, and different ecomorphological stategies to avoid predation. The Oniscidea have a world-wide distribution and occur in any kind of environment, from littoral to high mountains, from forests to deserts, and in all subterranean habitats. According to recent phylogenetic reconstructions five sections of Oniscidea are recognised: Diplocheta, Tylida, Microcheta, Synocheta and Crinocheta. The Crinocheta represent the richest group in biodiversity with 30 out of 37 families of Oniscidea presently known. The distributon of the suborder is briefly discussed.