Cubaris

{{Short description|Genus of woodlice}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Cubaris murina.png | image_caption = ''Cubaris murina'' | taxon = Cubaris | authority = Brandt, 1833 | type_species = Cubaris murina | diversity_link = List of Cubaris species | diversity = at least 100 species }}

'''''Cubaris''''' is a genus of woodlice in the family Armadillidae. There are more than 100 described species in the genus ''Cubaris''.<ref name=itis/><ref name=gbif/><ref name=buglink/>

== Behavior and reproduction == ''Cubaris'' species have, on average, lower reproduction rates and longer lifespans than other genera of isopod.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Members of the genus ''Cubaris'' are well known for their ability to conglobate, or roll up into a ball, along with other genera such as ''Armadillidium''.

== Classification == {{Further|List of Cubaris species}} ''Cubaris'' was coined in 1833, from the type species ''Cubaris murina''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moskovskoe obshchestvo liubitelei prirody. |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/173062 |title=Bulletin de la Société impériale des naturalistes de Moscou |last2=prirody |first2=Moskovskoe obshchestvo liubitelei |date=1832 |publisher=Société impériale des naturalistes de Moscou |volume=t.5-6 (1832-1833) |location=Moscou}}</ref> In 1935, the genus ''Nesodillo'' was considered a synonym of ''Cubaris''. Only in 1998 was ''Nesodillo'' re-established as a separate genus. The two genera still cause confusion when it comes to identification and classification,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jeon |first=Dae-Soo |last2=Kwon |first2=Do-Heon |date=2009 |title=Two New Species of the Genus Nesodillo (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Armadillidae) from Philippines |url=http://koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200924733173736.page |journal=Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=189–195 |doi=10.5635/KJSZ.2009.25.2.189 |issn=2234-6953|url-access=subscription |doi-access=free }}</ref> and there are likely species in each genus that belong in the other. ''Cubaris pronyensis'', ''Cubaris plastica'', ''Cubaris incisa'', and ''Cubaris pacifica'' are a few examples of ''Cubaris'' species which were placed in ''Nesodillo'' at some point.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Lillemets |first=Birgitta |last2=Wilson |first2=George D. F. |date=2002-06-01 |title=Armadillidae (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Lord Howe Island: new taxa and biogeography |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.54.2002.1360 |journal=Records of the Australian Museum |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=71–98 |doi=10.3853/j.0067-1975.54.2002.1360 |issn=0067-1975|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In recent years ''Cubaris'' has become a wastebasket taxon, resulting in many species being placed in the genus even when they do not necessarily fit the original description. This has resulted in ''Cubaris'' becoming a vague genus that often strays from its correct description. Researchers have recommended a comprehensive revision of the genus.<ref name=":0" />

== As pets == Isopods considered part of ''Cubaris'' are often in fairly high demand within the pet isopod hobby. Many of the ''Cubaris'' species within the hobby are either undescribed or unidentified, and are referred to as "''Cubaris'' sp.", though some have ended up being moved to other genera. One example of this is ''Nesodillo arcangelii'', which was incorrectly identified as ''Cubaris'' sp.

The hobby has expanded quickly in recent years, owed largely to ''Cubaris'' sp. "Rubber Ducky". This undescribed ''Cubaris'' species garnered significant online attention, due to its face resembling that of a rubber ducky. A number of isopod keepers credit this species for getting them into the hobby.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cheng |first=Ian |date=2023-06-23 |title='They're not insects!': Isopods grow in popularity as pets in Singapore |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/they-re-not-insects-isopods-grow-in-popularity-as-pets-in-singapore |access-date=2023-09-25 |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

In addition to the poaching of ''Cubaris'' sp. "Rubber Ducky" woodlice and additional isopod species for pets, "digital photography, citizen science platforms and social networks,"<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Robla |first1=Jairo |last2=Orihuela-Rivero |first2=Raúl |last3=De Smedt |first3=Pallieter |last4=Matarredona |first4=Marcos |last5=Garcia |first5=Lluc |title=A colourful world with a dark future: Unregulated trade as an emerging threat for woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea) of Spain |journal=Insect Conservation and Diversity |date=2025 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=161–176 |doi=10.1111/icad.12792 |url=https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/icad.12792 |language=en |issn=1752-4598|hdl=10261/371890 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wild Caught vs. Captive Bred Isopods |url=https://isopod.site/wild-caught-vs-captive-bred-isopods/ |website=isopod.site |date=10 November 2022 }}</ref> pyrethrin agents have induced morphological changes in, and diminished food consumption by, terrestrial isopods,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zidar |first1=Primož |last2=Hribar |first2=Monika |last3=Žižek |first3=Suzana |last4=Štrus |first4=Jasna |title=Behavioural response of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda) to pyrethrins in soil or food |journal=European Journal of Soil Biology |date=1 July 2012 |volume=51 |pages=51–55 |doi=10.1016/j.ejsobi.2012.03.010 |bibcode=2012EJSB...51...51Z |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1164556312000350 |issn=1164-5563|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Benmouhoub Hachemaoui |first1=Karima |last2=Moumene |first2=Maya |last3=Mouhoub Sayah |first3=Chafika |last4=Nait Mouloud |first4=Mohamed |last5=Djoudad Kadji |first5=Hafsa |last6=Yesguer |first6=Saddek |last7=Mahdeb |first7=Mokrane |last8=Mouzaia-Salhi |first8=Aouba |last9=Charfi |first9=Faouzia |last10=Montesanto |first10=Giuseppe |last11=Habold |first11=Caroline |title=Acute toxicity of two pesticides (dursban, mancozeb) and their combined mixture on the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare (Oniscidea, Isopoda) |journal=Studia Universitatis "Vasile Goldiș", Seria Ştiințele Vieţii (Life Sciences Series) |date=2019 |volume=29 |issue=4 |pages=184–191 |url=https://hal.science/hal-02934373v1}}</ref> even as increasing numbers have been identified in Western Europe and classified amidst soil contamination.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gardini |first1=Pietro |last2=Taiti |first2=Stefano |title=New Species of Terrestrial Isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Liguria and Surrounding Regions, Northern Italy |journal=Diversity |date=5 January 2023 |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=68 |doi=10.3390/d15010068 |bibcode=2023Diver..15...68G |doi-access=free |language=en |issn=1424-2818|hdl=11573/1664152 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=De Smedt |first1=Pallieter |last2=Boeraeve |first2=Pepijn |last3=Arijs |first3=Gert |last4=Segers |first4=Stijn |last5=Lambrechts |first5=Jorg |last6=Maes |first6=Dirk |title=A Red List of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) in Flanders (northern Belgium) and its implications for conservation |journal=Journal of Insect Conservation |date=1 August 2022 |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=525–535 |doi=10.1007/s10841-022-00390-7 |bibcode=2022JICon..26..525D |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-022-00390-7 |language=en |issn=1572-9753|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=itis> {{Cite web| title=''Cubaris'' Report | url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=93275 | website=Integrated Taxonomic Information System | access-date=2019-09-19 }}</ref>

<ref name=gbif> {{Cite web| title=''Cubaris'' | url=https://www.gbif.org/species/2202820 | website=GBIF | access-date=2019-09-19 }}</ref>

<ref name=buglink> {{Cite web| title=''Cubaris'' genus Information | url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/1309972 | website=BugGuide.net | access-date=2019-09-19 }}</ref> }}

==External links== {{Refbegin}} * {{Commons category-inline|Cubaris}} {{Refend}}

Category:Isopod genera Category:Articles created by Qbugbot Category:Armadillidae