Phylogeny of the terrestrial Isopoda (Oniscidea): a review

Abstract

Recent hypotheses on the phylogeny of the Oniscidea are summarized. The position of the Oniscidea in the phylogenetic system of the Isopoda is discussed. Within the Oniscidea, phylogenetic relationships are considered mainly down to „family“ level. Well founded monophyletic clades are discussed and unresolved and problematic regions are pointed out. A list of probable autapomorphies is given for each taxon. The knowledge on the fossil record of Oniscidea is reviewed briefly. Finally it is concluded that we need phylogenetic analyses down to species level in order to construe a robust phylogeny hypothesis for higher oniscidean taxa. An indispensable requirement for this is taxonomic revisions.