Kauaʻi record · KCA-CR-000155
Tropicana minuta
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About Tropicana minuta
Tropicana minuta is a terrestrial isopod placed in Philosciidae in the Atlas source taxonomy. Taiti and Howarth (1996, pp. 62–63) report many individuals in Casuarina humus and one in Hibiscus tiliaceus litter at Hāʻena on 13 May 1969, plus one in Albizia litter near Kapaʻa that day. A further specimen came from beach leaf litter near the start of the Kalalau–Nā Pali Trail on 19 January 1973. At Mount Kāhili, 900 m elevation, one was recorded from a wet cliff face and beating Dicranopteris on 15 March 1974; the original collection wording does not isolate which of those methods yielded the individual. The authors describe the species as broadly tropical, living in leaf litter, moss, and under bark from sea level to about 900 m, and their checklist marks it adventive. These dates, substrates, and elevations document historical Kauaʻi occurrence. They do not establish present-day abundance, continued occupancy of each location, or distinctive color and fine anatomical details of the old individuals.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Tropicana minuta
- Other names
- Tropicana minuta · crustacean · crustaceans
- Family
- Philosciidae
- Order
- Isopoda
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- confirmed by published Kauaʻi occurrence evidence
- Origin
- adventive
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- An adventive small terrestrial isopod recorded in several Kauaʻi litter habitats in 1969–1974, from Hāʻena and Kapaʻa to Mount Kāhili; current status is unassessed.