Athoracophorus is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of air-breathing, land slug

Slug

Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...

s, terrestrial

Terrestrial animal

Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...

 pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Athoracophoridae

Athoracophoridae

Athoracophoridae, common name the leaf-veined slugs, are a family of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the infraorder Stylommatophora, the stalk-eyed snails and slugs...

.

Species

Species in the genus Athoracophorus include:

• Athoracophorus bitentaculatus
  Athoracophorus bitentaculatus
  Athoracophorus bitentaculatus, is a species of land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Athoracophoridae.- Ecology :Parasites of Athoracophorus bitentaculatus include:...
  
  (Quoy
  Jean René Constant Quoy
  Jean René Constant Quoy was a French zoologist.Along with Joseph Paul Gaimard he served as naturalist aboard La Coquille under Louis Isidore Duperrey during its circumnavigation of the globe , and the Astrolabe under the command of Jules Dumont d'Urville...
  
   & Gaimard
  Joseph Paul Gaimard
  Joseph Paul Gaimard was a French naval surgeon and naturalist.Along with Jean René Constant Quoy he served as naturalist on the ships L'Uranie under Louis de Freycinet 1817-1820, and L'Astrolabe under Jules Dumont d'Urville 1826-1829...
  
  , 1832)
• Athoracophorus maculosus
  Athoracophorus maculosus
  Athoracophorus maculosus is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Athoracophoridae, the "leaf-veined" slugs.-References:...
  
  Burton, 1963
• Athoracophorus suteri
  Athoracophorus suteri
  Athoracophorus suteri is a leaf-veined slug, a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Athoracophoridae.- Further reading :...
  
  Burton, 1963

Description

The body of the animal is limaciform, subcylindrical and tapering behind; inferior tentacles wanting. Mantle

Mantle (mollusc)

The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...

 is anterior, small, triangular, lateral, adherent, enclosing the shell-plate. There are no longitudinal furrows above the margin of the foot, and no caudal mucous pit

Caudal mucous pit

The caudal mucous pit, or caudal mucous horn, is an anatomical structure on the tail end of the foot of various land snails and slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks....

. There is no distinct locomotive disk. External respiratory and anal orifices are on the right central margin of the mantle. Orifice of the combined
genital system is behind and below the right eye-peduncle.

The shell-plate is internal, flat, calcareous, oblong and sometimes in separate grains.

Jaw is smooth, with median projection and quadrate accessory plate.

Lingual membrane is with peculiarly shaped teeth, with long, narrow, curving, base of attachment, and low, transverse, multifid cusp.

The animal has peculiar dorsal grooves.

External links

• Drawing of Athoracophorus hirudo