cf. Porcellio sp. “Big Pine Key” (nomen nudum)
12 mixed: $150 ( Contact for Availability )
Detailed Species Stats -Click-
This rainbow-colored species was found by Alan Jeon while searching through limestone slabs on Big Pine Key. For some reason, the original wild stock was almost twice the size of captive specimens produced thus far; perhaps as with other isopods the amount of space and limited resources encouraged individuals to grow larger and invest their energy into a larger reproductive event. This species reproduces consistently but slowly, and growth can be painfully slow regardless of temperature. These tribulations are worth it as the coloration of adults is some of the most striking that wild isopods can offer.
**After discussing this species and several other southeastern US taxa with isopod specialists, this species and others in the group previously referred to in official publications as Porcellionides virgatus (the quotations are present in the document) are part of a clade of an often misidentified North American native isopod. Further discussion and current evidence suggests they are allied in some way with the genus Porcellio, which may or may not be split into multiple Old and New World groups.