Geomalacus anguiformis
Encyclopedia
Geomalacus anguiformis is a species
of air-breathing land slug
, a terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Arionidae
, the round back slugs.
) and central Spain.
. Mantle is elliptical, extending to tentacles in anterior part. Tentacles are nearly black, thick and not very long. When crawling, the slug has not always a regularly cylindrical shape, there are depressions and dilatations. Sole is light creamy with darker medial zone, with yellowish or greenish hue. Mucus is yellow. Geomalacus anguiformis is 60 mm long (preserved 30 mm).
Shell
is elliptical, solid, upper side convex and lower side flat.
The reproductive system
is diagnostic feature: Geomalacus anguiformis has atrial diverticulum shorter than spermatheca duct while Kerry slug
Geomalacus maculosus has atrial diverticulum longer than spermatheca duct. Geomalacus anguiformis has penis long, vas deferens very thin, spermatheca oval with long duct. Geomalacus anguiformis differs from Geomalacus oliveirae
in its atriopenis inserting at the prolongation of the atrial long axis (not laterally).
(1891). Die Nacktschnecken der portugiesisch-azorischen Fauna in ihrem Verhältnis zu denen der paläarktischen Region überhaupt. Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Germanicae Naturae Curiosorum 56: [1], 201-424, Tab. IX-XVIII [= 9-18]. Halle. Geomalacus anguiformis is on page 355-359.
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 mollusc in the family Arionidae
Arionidae
Arionidae, common name the "roundback slugs" or "round back slugs" are a taxonomic family of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Arionoidea.- Distribution :...
, the round back slugs.
Distribution
This species occurs in south Portugal (Serra de MonchiqueSerra de Monchique
The Serra de Monchique is a chain of mountains in the western part of the Algarve region of Portugal. The chain's highest point is the peak of Fóia, at 902 meters.The town of Monchique is located in this area....
) and central Spain.
Description
The slug is dark grey with brown hue. It has lighter sides and two light colour bands with dark lower margins running along both sides of the mantleMantle (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...
. Mantle is elliptical, extending to tentacles in anterior part. Tentacles are nearly black, thick and not very long. When crawling, the slug has not always a regularly cylindrical shape, there are depressions and dilatations. Sole is light creamy with darker medial zone, with yellowish or greenish hue. Mucus is yellow. Geomalacus anguiformis is 60 mm long (preserved 30 mm).
Shell
Gastropod shell
The gastropod shell is a shell which is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, one kind of mollusc. The gastropod shell is an external skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves not only for muscle attachment, but also for protection from predators and from mechanical damage...
is elliptical, solid, upper side convex and lower side flat.
The reproductive system
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...
is diagnostic feature: Geomalacus anguiformis has atrial diverticulum shorter than spermatheca duct while Kerry slug
Kerry Slug
The Kerry slug or Kerry spotted slug, scientific name Geomalacus maculosus, is a rare species of medium-sized to large air-breathing land slug...
Geomalacus maculosus has atrial diverticulum longer than spermatheca duct. Geomalacus anguiformis has penis long, vas deferens very thin, spermatheca oval with long duct. Geomalacus anguiformis differs from Geomalacus oliveirae
Geomalacus oliveirae
Geomalacus oliveirae is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Arionidae, the round back slugs.- Distribution:Distribution of Geomalacus oliveirae include:* Portugal...
in its atriopenis inserting at the prolongation of the atrial long axis (not laterally).
Further reading
Simroth H.Heinrich Simroth
Prof. Dr. phil. Heinrich Simroth, full name Heinrich Rudolf Simroth , was a German zoologist and malacologist. He was a professor of zoology in Leipzig....
(1891). Die Nacktschnecken der portugiesisch-azorischen Fauna in ihrem Verhältnis zu denen der paläarktischen Region überhaupt. Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Germanicae Naturae Curiosorum 56: [1], 201-424, Tab. IX-XVIII [= 9-18]. Halle. Geomalacus anguiformis is on page 355-359.