Isópodos

Isópodos are a diverse order of crustaceans that includes familiar animals like woodlice, pill bugs, and sea slaters. They are characterized by having seven pairs of legs that are all similar in size and shape, and they possess a segmented body with a hard exoskeleton. Their name, "isopoda," literally means "equal foot" in Greek, referring to this uniformity of their walking legs.

These crustaceans are found in a wide variety of habitats, from terrestrial environments to freshwater and marine ecosystems. Terrestrial isopods, often called roly-polies or pill bugs, are common in damp soil, under rocks, and in decaying wood. Marine isopods inhabit the seafloor, and some species are pelagic, living in the open ocean. Freshwater isopods are typically found in streams and lakes.

Isopods play important ecological roles in their respective environments. Many are detritivores, meaning they feed on dead organic matter, contributing to decomposition and nutrient cycling. Some species are scavengers or even predators, while a few are parasitic. Their life cycles generally involve direct development, with young hatching as miniature versions of the adults.