Gnorimosphaeroma oregonense

The Oregon Pill Bug

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Peracarida
Order Isopoda
Suborder Flabellifera
Family Sphaeromatidae
Genus Gnorimosphaeroma
Species oregonense

Description: 1 cm in length; gray and mottled; two pair of antennae; posterior end of body is unsegmented; is able to roll up into a ball; very similar to the terrestrial pill bug.

Habitat: Found living under mussels or with barnacles on floats and pilings.

Natural History: Large populations of G. oregonense usually indicates that the salinity is lower than that of full strength sea water. It was found in large numbers at Percival Landing.