Deroceras juranum
Encyclopedia
Deroceras juranum is a species
of air-breathing land slug
, a terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae
.
in Switzerland, distinguishing it from the co-occurring Deroceras rodnae
on the basis of Deroceras juranums distinct violet coloration. Later the same coloration was found in Austrian populations by Jordaens et al. (1998) and in other species of Deroceras by Reise & Hutchinson (2001). Reise (1997) demonstrated that the violet coloration was controlled by a single Mendelian-inherited
gene and thus considered Deroceras juranum to be a variety of Deroceras rodnae. It is treated thus in Wiktor’s (2000) monograph of the Agriolimacidae.
Hutchinson & Reise (2009) later realised that what had been considered Deroceras rodnae was actually two species with radically different mating behaviours and consistent, although subtle, differences in morphology. Molecular analyses
supported this distinction. The more easterly distributed species can retain the name Deroceras rodnae, and the westerly distributed species must, somewhat confusingly, take the name Deroceras juranum.
, such as Deroceras praecox
, Deroceras rodnae
, Deroceras turcicum
and Deroceras reticulatum
. It is polymorphic
in colour. Identifications to species level require dissection
: illustrations of the genitalia
are depicted in work by Hutchinson & Reise (2009).
of Switzerland, other populations in the Swiss Jura Mountains, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic were Deroceras juranum. Earlier records of Deroceras rodnae s. l. from the west of its range are liable to refer to Deroceras juranum, but identifications from Spain and Italy have been questioned.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
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...
, a 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 mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae
Agriolimacidae
Agriolimacidae is a family of small and medium sized land slugs, or shell-less snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.- Distribution :Distribution of Limacidae is Holarctic, this include: Nearctic, western Palearctic and eastern Palearctic....
.
Taxonomy
Wüthrich (1993) described Deroceras juranum from the Jura MountainsJura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
in Switzerland, distinguishing it from the co-occurring Deroceras rodnae
Deroceras rodnae
Deroceras rodnae is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Taxonomy:...
on the basis of Deroceras juranums distinct violet coloration. Later the same coloration was found in Austrian populations by Jordaens et al. (1998) and in other species of Deroceras by Reise & Hutchinson (2001). Reise (1997) demonstrated that the violet coloration was controlled by a single Mendelian-inherited
Mendelian inheritance
Mendelian inheritance is a scientific description of how hereditary characteristics are passed from parent organisms to their offspring; it underlies much of genetics...
gene and thus considered Deroceras juranum to be a variety of Deroceras rodnae. It is treated thus in Wiktor’s (2000) monograph of the Agriolimacidae.
Hutchinson & Reise (2009) later realised that what had been considered Deroceras rodnae was actually two species with radically different mating behaviours and consistent, although subtle, differences in morphology. Molecular analyses
Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis can be used generally to describe methods both used in and resulting from the sciences of genetics and molecular biology, or to applications resulting from this research....
supported this distinction. The more easterly distributed species can retain the name Deroceras rodnae, and the westerly distributed species must, somewhat confusingly, take the name Deroceras juranum.
Description
Externally Deroceras juranum is indistinguishable from many other DerocerasDeroceras
Deroceras is a taxonomic genus of small to medium sized, air-breathing, land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Agriolimacidae.-Description:...
, such as Deroceras praecox
Deroceras praecox
Deroceras praecox is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Taxonomy:...
, Deroceras rodnae
Deroceras rodnae
Deroceras rodnae is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Taxonomy:...
, Deroceras turcicum
Deroceras turcicum
Deroceras turcicum is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Distribution:...
and Deroceras reticulatum
Deroceras reticulatum
Deroceras reticulatum, common names "grey field slug" and "grey garden slug", is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae...
. It is polymorphic
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
in colour. Identifications to species level require dissection
Dissection
Dissection is usually the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure and as an aid to discerning the functions and relationships of its components....
: illustrations of the genitalia
Reproductive system of gastropods
The reproductive system of gastropods varies greatly from one group to another within this very large and diverse taxonomic class of animals...
are depicted in work by Hutchinson & Reise (2009).
Distribution
Hutchinson & Reise (2009) confirmed that, besides the type locality in Jura MountainsJura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
of Switzerland, other populations in the Swiss Jura Mountains, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic were Deroceras juranum. Earlier records of Deroceras rodnae s. l. from the west of its range are liable to refer to Deroceras juranum, but identifications from Spain and Italy have been questioned.