Shelled slug
| Shelled slug | |
|---|---|
| |
| Drawing of the shelled slug, Testacella haliotidea | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Informal group: | Sigmurethra |
| Family: | Testacellidae |
| Genus: | Testacella |
| Species: | T. haliotidea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Testacella haliotidea Lamarck, 1801
| |
The shelled slug, scientific name Testacella haliotidea, is a rarely seen, air-breathing, carnivorous land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs.[2]
Description[edit]
This slug, like others in the family, has a small shell, which is situated towards the rear of the animal. The species epithet is haliotidea because the shell of this species resembles in shape a miniature version of the shell of the marine species in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.
This is a large, very agile, pale brown slug, with a length of 12 cm. It has a small ear-shaped, external shell, less than 1 cm long, at the tail end of the mantle.
The following shell description is modified from Tryon 1885. The shell is oval-auriform, depressed, and rugosely striate. It has a thin, readily deciduous epidermis. The apex is minute, very short and not separated from the columellar margin. The aperture is rounded and usually dilated anteriorly; the columella and the outer margin of the aperture form a distinct angle at their junction. The interior of the shell is whitish and pearly. The length of the shell is 6–10 mm.[3]
Distribution[edit]
This species is common along the western Mediterranean, along the European Atlantic coast and throughout Great Britain apart from northern Scotland.[4] This slug occurs in Europe but its distribution is under-recorded there.
It was recorded in Czechia as an introduced species.[5] It also occurs as an introduced species in southern Australia, New Zealand[6] and North America (where it is called the earshell slug). The distribution data for the United States, (Oregon, Wisconsin) and Canada (British Columbia, Nova Scotia) are incomplete.
Habitat[edit]
This species is seen mostly in the spring, living in cultivated habitats or on disturbed ground. The slug lives mostly underground,[4] but may sometimes be found under stones or in leaf litter.
Life habits[edit]
This slug hunts and eats earthworms underground. The radula teeth are a functional adaption in the capturing of prey.
Conservation status[edit]
- Least concern (LC)[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Allen, D.J. (2017). "Testacella haliotidea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T171079A1320948. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T171079A1320948.en. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Marshall, B. (2014). Testacella haliotidea Lamarck, 1801. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=819973 on 2014-11-06
- ^ George Washington Tryon: Manual of conchology; structural and systematic. With illustrations of the species. Second series: Pulmonata, volume 1. - 1885, Philadelphia, page 10.
- ^ a b Stuart M. Bennett. 2000. Testacella baliotidea. Casual Intruders page.
- ^ Podroužková, Štěpánka (2022-09-12). "The first record of carnivorous semislug Testacella haliotidea Draparnaud, 1801 in Czechia". Malacologica Bohemoslovaca. 21: 63–64. doi:10.5817/MaB2022-21-63. ISSN 1336-6939.
- ^ Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. pp 196–219 in Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch
External links[edit]
Media related to Testacella haliotidea at Wikimedia Commons- AnimalBase Testacella haliotidea Distribution, biology, image
