Lemurian Isopods

Terrestrial coprophagous crustacean.

A species of isopod that cling to underside of the Lemurian Tortoise's shell. When the tortoise defecates the isopods climb down it's legs and eat the feces. When finished, the climb back up the legs and hold on to the underside of the shell until their next meal.

The toroise's dying contains a great deal of partial digested plant material for the isopods to feed on. Further composing the dung is an important service to the ecosystem.

Tree shell provides protection from predators and the sun. The underside of the shell is cool and shady, so they do not dry out. Tis I'd a coven since they lack a way cuticle to retain moisture.

Their limbs have well developed claws for holding onto the tortoise shell upside down. But these are bad for walking and the isopods never travel more than a few feet from their tortoise.

Grayish

They have flattened, oblong bodies with overlapping dorsal plates. They have two pairs of antennas and seven pairs of legs. Their abdomens have several pairs of lung/hill like structures.

1 inch.

Gripping claws

Dorsal plates and hiding under tortoise shell.

Extremely slow.

Grasslands/ underside of tortoise shell.

Tortoise dung.