Bethalus is a genus of woodlice belonging to the family Armadillidae. The type specimen for this species was originally designated as Armadillo nigrinus by Gustav Budde-Lund in 1885 but in 1909 he revised this designation to Bethalus nigrinus, creating a new genus in the process. The type specimen is believed to have been collected in South Africa. There are at least 20 species in this genus.
Description
This genus is able to conglobate. The epimera (side plates) on their first and second pereon segments have small lobes.
Distribution
Bethalus spp. are found in South Africa, Malawi, and Mozambique. Bethalus live in very dry environments in comparison to many other isopod genera.
Species
Numerous species have been described in Bethalus, including:
- Bethalus arator Barnard, 1937
- Bethalus aureoniger Barnard, 1960
- Bethalus bipunctatus Barnard, 1958
- Bethalus cordatus (Dollfus, 1895)
- Bethalus egens (Budde-Lund, 1904)
- Bethalus gorongozae Barnard, 1960
- Bethalus lawrencei Barnard, 1937
- Bethalus limbatus (Brandt, 1833)
- Bethalus lineatus Taiti & Ferrara, 1987
- Bethalus linguitelson Barnard, 1960
- Bethalus mariepensis Barnard, 1960
- Bethalus nigrinus (Budde-Lund, 1885)
- Bethalus oraniensis (Dollfus, 1895)
- Bethalus panurus (Budde-Lund, 1904)
- Bethalus pretoriensis (Dollfus, 1895)
- Bethalus rhodesiae Barnard, 1932
- Bethalus simplex (Dollfus, 1895)
- Bethalus statumenes Barnard, 1960
- Bethalus stricticauda (Dollfus, 1895)
- Bethalus trichardti Barnard, 1960
References