Pseudolaureola atlantica

Pseudolaureola atlantica, or the Spiky Yellow Woodlouse is a species of woodlouse endemic to St. Helena's High Peak.

Pseudolaureola atlantica
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Isopoda
Family:	Armadillidae
Genus:	Pseudolaureola
Species:	P. atlantica
Binomial name
Pseudolaureola atlantica (Vandel, 1977)[1]
Synonyms
Laureola atlantica

Unlike woodlice that forage on the forest floor, the spiky yellow woodlouse inhabits the treetops of Tree fern thickets and Black Cabbage tree woodland,[2] as well as black scale fern groves, found on Peaks National Park.[3] They have also been recorded inhabiting St. Helena redwood trees.[4]

Its numbers are in decline due to introduced species such as rats and competition with foreign woodlice. Large scale flax farming is decimating the now-reduced black cabbage tree groves that it inhabits.[5] A captive breeding program is currently in development.[6] Currently, there are approximately 100 known individuals on the island, after the discovery of approximately 40 to 100 individuals.[7]

The Spiky Yellow Woodlouse probably feeds on spores and pollen.[4]

The Spiky Yellow Woodlouse is 1 centimeter long.[2] It is bright yellow and covered in spines, and it has no visual dimorphism between the sexes.[4] Its bright coloration and spines are likely used to ward off potential predators it may encounter.[4]