Which taxonomic suborder exclusively contains isopods fully adapted to terrestrial life?
Answer
Oniscidea
The definitive step separating the common woodlouse from the majority of its relatives within the Order Isopoda is its placement into Suborder Oniscidea. This suborder is characterized specifically by containing all isopods that have achieved full adaptation to life entirely on land. While this adaptation is significant, it is not absolute, as they remain biologically dependent on high humidity due to their respiratory structures. This classification highlights one of the most notable evolutionary achievements within the crustacean lineage: successfully crossing the boundary from an aquatic environment to a sustained terrestrial existence.
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