Ligidium hypnorum

Ligidium hypnorum
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Family: Ligiidae
Genus: Ligidium
Species:
L. hypnorum
Binomial name
Ligidium hypnorum
(Cuvier, 1792)
Synonyms 
  • Ligia melanocephala C. Koch, 1838
  • Ligidium agile (Persoon, 1793)
  • Ligidium amethystinum Schöbl, 1861
  • Ligidium carpathicum Verhoeff, 1937
  • Ligidium cursorium Budde-Lund, 1885
  • Ligidium melanocephalum (C. Koch, 1838)
  • Ligidium paludicola (C. Koch, 1841)
  • Ligidium persoonii Brandt, 1833
  • Ligidium silvaenigrae Verhoeff, 1937
  • Oniscus agilis Persoon, 1793
  • Oniscus hypnorum Cuvier, 1792
  • Zia agilis C. Koch, 1841
  • Zia melanocephala C. Koch, 1841
  • Zia paludicolia C. Koch, 1841
  • Zia saundersi Stebbing, 1873

Ligidium hypnorum is a species of woodlouse found across Europe and western Asia. It is a fast-moving, active species that rarely grows longer than 9 mm (0.35 in). It is dark and shiny, and is similar in appearance to the common species Philoscia muscorum, and also the rarer Oritoniscus flavus. In Great Britain, it was first discovered at Copthorne Common, Surrey, in 1873, and most later records are also from South East England. It is considered a good indicator species for ancient woodland.