isopods
Seven-legged-pair crustaceans
Isopods are crustaceans with flattened, segmented bodies and seven pairs of legs.
The group includes pill bugs and woodlice—the only crustaceans fully adapted to land—as well as marine species ranging from tiny parasites to the giant isopods of the deep sea.
Pill bugs curl into a ball when disturbed, earning them names like roly-poly.
Aquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- woodlouseTerrestrial isopod, gray-armored
- pillbugLand crustacean, rolls defensively
- sowbugTerrestrial isopod
roly-poly · invertebrate · segmented · exoskeleton · antennae · marsupium · species · genus
Decomposing ground debris
- rotting woodDeteriorating plant matter
- soilGround matter for planting
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
garden · compost · rocks · bark · damp · substrate · burrow · microhabitat
Separate parts of something
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- pleonCrustacean abdominal section
- compound eyesMulti-lensed visual organs
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
molt · cuticle · marsupium · rolling · defense · coloration · pigment · setae
Organism breaking down corpses
- detritivoreEats dead organic material
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
- decayGradual organic breakdown
organic matter · recycling · scavenger · food web · prey · predator · microbiome · biodiversity
Of ocean depths
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- whale fallSunken cetacean corpse
- carrionPutrefying animal remains
seafloor · pressure · abyssal · marine · specimen · bizarre · prehistoric · alien
Holding in custody
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- morphsChanges form gradually
- collectionGathered set of items
- husbandryFarm management practice
enclosure · bioactive · vivarium · terrarium · rubber ducky · dairy cow · zebra · magic potion
crustacean
Aquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- woodlouseTerrestrial isopod, gray-armored
- pillbugLand crustacean, rolls defensively
sowbug · roly-poly · invertebrate · segmented · exoskeleton · antennae · marsupium · species · genus · family
leaf litter
Decomposing ground debris
- rotting woodDeteriorating plant matter
- soilGround matter for planting
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
decomposition · garden · compost · rocks · bark · damp · substrate · burrow · microhabitat · forest floor
segments
Separate parts of something
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- pleonCrustacean abdominal section
- compound eyesMulti-lensed visual organs
gills · molt · cuticle · marsupium · rolling · defense · coloration · pigment · setae · mandibles
decomposer
Organism breaking down corpses
- detritivoreEats dead organic material
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
decay · organic matter · recycling · scavenger · food web · prey · predator · microbiome · biodiversity · cleanup crew
deep-sea
Of ocean depths
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- whale fallSunken cetacean corpse
carrion · seafloor · pressure · abyssal · marine · specimen · bizarre · prehistoric · alien · armor
keeping
Holding in custody
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- morphsChanges form gradually
- collectionGathered set of items
husbandry · enclosure · bioactive · vivarium · terrarium · rubber ducky · dairy cow · zebra · magic potion · clown
- arthropodsarthropod, arthropods, Arthropoda, insects, insect
- marine ecosystemsphytoplankton, oceans, zooplankton, marine life, krill
- crustaceanscrabs, crab, prawn, lobster, lobsters
- marine invertebratescrabs, lobsters, shrimp, clams, mussels
- pond lifetadpoles, fish, frog, frogs, algae
- tidepoolstidepools, tide pools, tide pool, rockpools, rock pools
isopodsinsects
Six-legged arthropods
hexapods · beetles · ants · cockroaches · centipedes
- giant isopodLarge abyssal crustacean