| Shelled slug | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Drawing of the shelled slug,Testacella haliotidea | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Testacellidae |
| Genus: | Testacella |
| Species: | T. haliotidea |
| Binomial name | |
| Testacella haliotidea Lamarck, 1801 | |
Theshelled slug,scientific nameTestacella haliotidea, is a rarely seen, air-breathing,carnivorous landslug, aterrestrialgastropodmollusk in the familyTestacellidae, the shelled slugs.[2]
This slug, like others in the family, has a small shell, which is situated towards the rear of the animal. The species epithet ishaliotidea because the shell of this species resembles in shape a miniature version of the shell of the marine species in the familyHaliotidae, the abalones.
This is a large, very agile, pale brown slug, with a length of 12 cm. It has a small ear-shaped, external shell, less than 1 cm long, at the tail end of themantle.
The following shell description is modified from Tryon 1885. The shell is oval-auriform, depressed, and rugosely striate. It has a thin, readily deciduous epidermis. The apex is minute, very short and not separated from the columellar margin. The aperture is rounded and usually dilated anteriorly; the columella and the outer margin of the aperture form a distinct angle at their junction. The interior of the shell is whitish and pearly. The length of the shell is 6–10 mm.[3]
This species is common along the westernMediterranean, along the EuropeanAtlantic coast and throughoutGreat Britain apart from northernScotland.[4] This slug occurs inEurope but its distribution is under-recorded there.
It was recorded in Czechia as an introduced species.[5] It also occurs as an introduced species in southernAustralia,New Zealand[6] andNorth America (where it is called theearshell slug). The distribution data for theUnited States, (Oregon,Wisconsin) andCanada (British Columbia,Nova Scotia) are incomplete.
This species is seen mostly in the spring, living in cultivated habitats or ondisturbed ground. The slug lives mostly underground,[4] but may sometimes be found under stones or inleaf litter.
This slug hunts and eats earthworms underground. The radula teeth are a functional adaption in the capturing of prey.
Media related toTestacella haliotidea at Wikimedia Commons