Paua slug
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| Schizoglossa novoseelandica Hedley, 1892 |
The paua slug, Schizoglossa novoseelandica, is a terrestrial mollusc in the family paryphantidae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Species of this genus have a shell which is reduced to little more than a cover for the viscera. The shell resembles the shell of an abalone whence its name - paua being the Māori word for abalone - and is thin , opaque, and covered by a thin, shining, greenish-olive periostracum.
The paua slug lives on land and feeds on worms. Its length is between 5.8 and 20 mm, with a width of 4 to 12 mm.
There are two subspecies:
- Schizoglossa novoseelandica novoseelandica - New Zealand mainland.
- Schizoglossa novoseelandica barrierensis - found only on Great Barrier Island.
[edit] References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
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