Athoracophorus maculosus

Taxobox
name = "Athoracophorus maculosus"


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. maculosus"
binomial = "Athoracophorus maculosus"
binomial_authority = Burton, 1963

"Athoracophorus maculosus", is a leaf-veined slug, a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Athoracophoridae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand where suitable habitat exists.

Description

This species has ten shallow lateral grooves on either side, each lying in a narrow buff stripe. The papillae are broad and low, each surrounded by a circle of black spots. The two tentacles are not externally apparent. There is only a vestigial internal shell in the form of numerous small calcareous particles.

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]