Which defensive mechanism is characteristic of pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) but typically absent in the rough woodlouse?
Answer
Rolling into a tight, protective ball (conglobation)
Pill bugs, scientifically often represented by species like *Armadillidium vulgare*, belong to the family Armadillidiidae and possess a unique defensive strategy known as conglobation. This involves the ability to roll their segmented bodies tightly into a nearly impenetrable, protective sphere, safeguarding their vulnerable underside and appendages. The rough woodlouse, identified scientifically as *Porcellio scaber*, is generally not capable of this specific rolling behavior, illustrating a morphological and behavioral divergence even among terrestrial isopods within the same suborder.
Related Questions
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