The status of the subspecies lusitanus is disputed between isopodologists seeing that the only differences between the nominate subspecies is allometric growth; therefore, lusitanus is a form in the sense of Vandel only occuring in large-sized specimens. It has been recommended by J. Cifuentes that lusitanus should be indicated as Porcellio scaber "forma" lusitanus; however, the subspecies is currently still considered valid.

The subspecies is in need of genetic analysis to relinquish this taxonomic controversy.

The diagnostic characteristics of lusitanus according to Vandel are: a bigger size; a grey uniform color (in both sexes); more developped granulation (but in some scaber, in particular littoral populations these are very developped too); median lobe of cephalon more rounded; more developed uropods; more developed lateral lobes.

The aim of this project is to collect range information on the many individuals with allometric growth resembling Porcellio scaber lusitanus. less ↑