Deroceras

Deroceras
Deroceras reticulatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra clade limacoid clade
Superfamily:	Limacoidea
Family:	Agriolimacidae
Subfamily:	Agriolimacinae
Genus:	Deroceras Rafinesque, 1820[1]
Species
See text.
Diversity
123 species[2]

Deroceras is a taxonomic genus of small to medium sized, air-breathing, land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Agriolimacidae.

Description

These slugs are light gray or brown to black-brown, and their coloring is usually mottled. The brown species usually grow to around 25 mm long, and the grey garden or field species can grow as large as 50 mm long.

The mucus of the brown slug is thin, clear, and colorless. When the grey garden slug is distressed, the mucus is milky and sticky.

The taxonomy, anatomy and other aspects of the biology of this genus have been reviewed by Wiktor (2000).^[2] Reise (2007) reviewed the fascinating and diverse mating behaviour.^[3]

Species

The most recent and authoritative monograph dealing with this genus is Wiktor (2000).^[2] In it Wiktor rejects earlier attempts (including his own) at a subgeneric (Agriolimax Mörch, 1865, Plathystimulus Wiktor, 1973) classification because there appear to be so many convergences and reversals. The only exception was that he split off Liolytopelte as a subgenus because of its distinctive hard plate within the penis; all other species were included in the subgenus Deroceras.

There are 123 species in the genus Deroceras.^[2]

subgenus Deroceras Rafinesque, 1820

• Deroceras abessinicum
• Deroceras adolphi
• Deroceras afer
• Deroceras agreste
• Deroceras altaicum
• Deroceras altimirai
• Deroceras astypalaeensis
• Deroceras bakurianum
• Deroceras barceum
• Deroceras berytensis
• Deroceras bisacchianum
• Deroceras bistimulatum Wiktor, 2000^[2]
• Deroceras boeoticum
• Deroceras boettgeri
• Deroceras bulgaricum
• Deroceras cazioti
• Deroceras chevallieri
• Deroceras christae
• Deroceras chrysorroyatissensis
• Deroceras concrementosum
• Deroceras cycladicum
• Deroceras dallaii
• Deroceras deckeni
• Deroceras demirtensis
• Deroceras dubium
• Deroceras ercinae
• Deroceras famagustensis
• Deroceras fatrense
• Deroceras gardullanum
• Deroceras gavdosensis
• Deroceras giustianum
• Deroceras glandulosum
• Deroceras golcheri
• Deroceras gorgonium
• Deroceras halieos
• Deroceras helicoidale
• Deroceras hesperium
• Deroceras heterura
• Deroceras ikaria
• Deroceras ilium
• Deroceras johannae
• Deroceras juranum
• Deroceras karnaniensis
• Deroceras kasium
• Deroceras keaensis
• Deroceras kontanum
• Deroceras korthionensis
• Deroceras koschanum
• Deroceras kythirensis
• Deroceras laeve
• Deroceras lasithionensis
• Deroceras levisarcobelum
• Deroceras libanoticum
• Deroceras limacoides
• Deroceras lombricoides
• Deroceras lothari
• Deroceras maasseni
• Deroceras malkini
• Deroceras melinum
• Deroceras minoicum
• Deroceras neuteboomi
• Deroceras nigroclypeatum
• Deroceras nitidum
• Deroceras nyphoni
• Deroceras oertzeni
• Deroceras orduensis
• Deroceras osseticum
• Deroceras padisii
• Deroceras pageti
• Deroceras panormitanum
• Deroceras parium
• Deroceras parnasium
• Deroceras planarioides
• Deroceras ponsonbyi
• Deroceras praecox
• Deroceras pseudopanormitanum
• Deroceras rethimnonensis
• Deroceras reticulatum
• Deroceras rhodensis
• Deroceras riedelianum
• Deroceras roblesi
• Deroceras rodnae
• Deroceras samium
• Deroceras seriphium
• Deroceras sturanyi
• Deroceras subagreste
• Deroceras tarracense
• Deroceras tauricum
• Deroceras thersites
• Deroceras turcicum
• Deroceras uataderensis
• Deroceras vascoana
• Deroceras zilchi

subgenus Liolytopelte Simroth, 1901

• Deroceras bureschi
• Deroceras caucasicum
• Deroceras kandaharensis
• Deroceras moldavicum (Grossu & Lupu, 1961)
• Deroceras occidentalis
• Deroceras trabzonensis

Relevance to humans

One species in this genus, (Deroceras reticulatum the grey field slug) is a serious pest to agriculture and horticulture.

References

1. ^ Rafinesque C. S. (1820). Annals of nature or annual synopsis of new genera and species of animals, plants, &c. discovered in North America. First annual number, for 1820. pp. 1-16. Lexington
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Wiktor, A. (2000). "Agriolimacidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): a systematic monograph". Annales Zoologici 49: 347-590. abstract
3. ^ Reise, H. (2007). "A review of mating behavior in Deroceras slugs (Pulmonata: Agriolimacidae)". American Malacalogical Bulletin 23: 137–156. [1]

External links