Athoracophorus bitentaculatus

Taxobox
name = "Athoracophorus bitentaculatus"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Heterobranchia
ordo = Pulmonata
subordo = Eupulmonata
infraordo = Stylommatophora
subinfraorder = Sigmurethra
superfamilia = Athoracophoroidea
familia = Athoracophoridae
genus = "Athoracophorus"
species = "A. bitentaculatus"
binomial = "Athoracophorus bitentaculatus"
binomial_authority = (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832)
synonyms = "Limax bitentaculatus" Quoy and Gaimard, 1832
"Janella antipodarum" Gray, 1853
"Neojanella dubia" Cockerell, 1891
"Janella maculata" Collinge, 1894
"Athoracophorus bitentaculatus rufovenosus" Suter, 1909

"Athoracophorus bitentaculatus" is a leaf-veined slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Athoracophoridae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand, found in all three main islands where suitable habitat exists. It is the most widespread of the leaf-veined slugs.

Habitat

This species of leaf-veined slug is found in areas with an annual rainfall in excess of 1,270 mm.

Description

The slug's length is up to 40 mm. It has two tentacles, the longest and most substantial of any of the leaf-veined slugs. There are 10 to 15 shallow lateral grooves on either side. Colration is variable, usually light buff or yellow, often with brown grooves and an orange mantle area. There are no papillae. There is only a vestigial internal shell in the form of numerous small calcareous particles.

Life habits

It is nocturnal and fungivorous (eats fungus).

The eggs of this species are small, round and gelatinous.

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Bio11Tuat02-t1-body-d7.html NZETC]