Bethalus is a genus of woodlice belonging to the family Armadillidae. The type specimen for this species was originally designated as Armadillo nigrinus by Gustav Budde-Lund in 1885 but in 1909 he revised this designation to Bethalus nigrinus, creating a new genus in the process. The type specimen is believed to have been collected in South Africa. There are at least 20 species in this genus.
Description This genus is able to conglobate. The epimera (side plates) on their first and second pereon segments have small lobes.
Distribution Bethalus spp. are found in South Africa, Malawi, and Mozambique. Bethalus live in very dry environments in comparison to many other isopod genera.
Species Numerous species have been described in Bethalus, including:
Bethalus arator Barnard, 1937 Bethalus aureoniger Barnard, 1960 Bethalus bipunctatus Barnard, 1958 Bethalus cordatus (Dollfus, 1895) Bethalus egens (Budde-Lund, 1904) Bethalus gorongozae Barnard, 1960 Bethalus lawrencei Barnard, 1937 Bethalus limbatus (Brandt, 1833) Bethalus lineatus Taiti & Ferrara, 1987 Bethalus linguitelson Barnard, 1960 Bethalus mariepensis Barnard, 1960 Bethalus nigrinus (Budde-Lund, 1885) Bethalus oraniensis (Dollfus, 1895) Bethalus panurus (Budde-Lund, 1904) Bethalus pretoriensis (Dollfus, 1895) Bethalus rhodesiae Barnard, 1932 Bethalus simplex (Dollfus, 1895) Bethalus statumenes Barnard, 1960 Bethalus stricticauda (Dollfus, 1895) Bethalus trichardti Barnard, 1960
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