# Terrestrial isopods (Isopoda, Oniscidea) of Slovakia: an annotated checklist, new records, and bibliography

## TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed checklist of terrestrial isopods in Slovakia, including new records and a summary of research from 1794 to 2024.

## Contribution

The paper introduces two new species to Slovakia and compiles 213 research papers and 25 theses on the topic.

## Key findings

- 48 species of terrestrial isopods have been recorded in Slovakia, with 30 being native and 18 introduced.
- Two species, Buddelundiellacataractae and Reductoniscuscostulatus, are newly recorded in Slovakia.
- Hyloniscusmariae is likely the only surface-dwelling endemic species in northern Carpathians.

## Abstract

Woodlice (terrestrial isopods) represent an unmissable, often very numerous components of macrosaprophages inhabiting soil, rocky environments, rotting wood and subterranean habitats, as well as the dwellings of various organisms, including humans. The paper provides a comprehensive summary of the literature on woodlice in Slovakia, including a list of species with unpublished data on two exotic species first recorded in Slovakia. Research on Slovakian terrestrial isopods has been documented in 213 papers (from 1794 to 2024) and 25 theses. To date, 48 species from 14 families have been recorded in Slovakia. Of these, 30 species are autochthonous, while 18 species have been introduced into anthropogenic habitats, with eight species found exclusively in greenhouses. The list also includes an analysis of habitat preferences, bioindicator potential, and biogeographic comments. Notably, two species, Buddelundiellacataractae and Reductoniscuscostulatus, are recorded in Slovakia for the first time. Carpathian elements are sparsely distributed within the mosaic of well-preserved natural forests. Hyloniscusmariae is likely the only surface-dwelling endemic species in the northern parts of the Carpathian range. Other species, such as Hyloniscustranssilvanicus, Trichoniscuscarpaticus and Trachelipusdifficilis, have a broader distribution within the Carpathians. Additionally, Mesoniscusgraniger, Orthometoponplanum and a few other taxa reach their northern distribution limits in Slovakia. Current research is predominantly focused on the fauna of subterranean habitats and urbanized landscapes.