Deto aucklandiae explained

Deto aucklandiae is a species of seashore dwelling woodlouse from the Detonidae family.^[1] D. aucklandiae is endemic to a few subantarctic islands in New Zealand.

Taxonomy

Deto aucklandiae was first described in 1879 as Actaecia aucklandiae.^[2] In 1906, D. aucklandiae was described again as Deto magnifica and Deto robusta.^[3] A. aucklandiae was then moved to the Deto genus in 2003 and D. magnifica and D. robusta were recognized as synonyms.

Description

Deto aucklandiae are a large, sexually dimorphic species, with males reaching 20-24mm in length and females reaching 12-19mm in length. Males have large, thick antennae and a dorsal surface that is covered in spine like tubercles. Females have more slender antennae than the males and can also be distinguished by a slight groove present in segments 2, 3 and 4.

Distribution

Deto aucklandiae occurs in the coastal zone of subantarctic islands in New Zealand.^[4] They are known to occur on Auckland Island, Campbell Island and Snares Island.

Notes and References

1. Schmalfuss, H. (2003). World catalog of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A, 654: 1-341., available online at http://www-alt.naturkundemuseum-bw.de/stuttgart/pdf/a_pdf/A654.pdf
2. Thomson, G. M. (1879). New Zealand Crustacea, with descriptions of new species. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 11: 230-248, pl. 10.
3. Budde-Lund, G. (1906) Die Landisopoden der deutschen Suedpolar- Expedition 1901-1903. Mit Diagnosen verwandter Arten. Deutsche Südpolar-Expedition 1901-1903, Berlin (G. Reimer) 9(2):69-92.
4. Minor, M., Meyer V., Robertson A., Taiti, S. (2016). Deto aucklandiae (Thomson, 1879) factsheet. In: NZ Slaters: A Guide and Identification Key to New Zealand Terrestrial Isopoda (updated 31-Jan-2017), http://nzslaters.massey.ac.nz (accessed 27-June-2019)