Chaetophiloscia sicula Verhoeff, 1908
Status:
GB IUCN status: Not applicable (non-native)
ID Difficulty
Identification
Chaetophiloscia species are typically mottled brown, with a strongly stepped body outline, thus resembling a relatively slender Philoscia muscorum.
Chaetophiloscia sicula is a slender species with a strongly stepped pereion/pleon outline, akin to a poorly pigmented Philoscia muscorum. The male first pleopod has the endopod of highly characteristic shape.
A brief description of this species, with figures, is given by Gregory (2014).
Distribution and Habitat
Chaetophiloscia sicula is only known from the Eden Project (Mediterranean Biome), Cornwall, where it was first collected in 2005, but its identity was not confirmed until a male specimen was collected in 2010 (Gregory, 2014). These were found underneath embedded rocks which were damp underneath.
It originates from the Mediterranean regions of southern France and Italy, but has been widely introduced elsewhere. Given its occurrence on the Atlantic coast of Brittany it may be just a matter of time before it is discovered outdoors in southern England, either in coastal habitats or synanthropic sites, such as gardens (Gregory, 2025).
References
Gregory, S.J. (2025) 15 years on: An update to Woodlice and Waterlice in Britain and Ireland, part 2 ~ Non-native species, not yet naturalised. Bulletin of the British Myriapod and Isopod Group, 37: 7-25.
Gregory, S. (2014) Woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Eden Project, Cornwall, with descriptions of species new to Britain, and poorly known British species. Bulletin of the British Myriapod & Isopod Group 27: 3-26.
Links
World List of Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans: https://www.marinespecies.org/isopoda/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=259738
BRC code
76