Limax flavus

Limax flavus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
informal group Pulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
clade limacoid clade
Superfamily: Limacoidea
Family: Limacidae
Subfamily: Limacinae
Genus: Limax
Subgenus: Limacus
Species: L. flavus
Binomial name
Limax flavus
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms

Limacus flavus

Limax flavus (syn. Limacus flavus), known commonly as the yellow slug or tawny garden slug, is a medium to large species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Limacidae. [1]

Description

This slug has a yellow body with grey mottling, and pale blue tentacles. When extended, the body length can be 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches).[2]

Drawing of reproductive system of Limax flavus.

Distribution

The yellow slug is common in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland as well as most of southern and western Europe. It has been accidentally introduced in many other parts of the world.

Behavior

Yellow slugs, like the majority of other land slugs, use two pairs of tentacles on their heads to sense their environment. The upper pair, called optical tentacles, is used to sense light. The lower pair, oral tentacles, provide the slug's sense of smell. Both pairs can retract and extend themselves to avoid hazards, and, if lost to an accident or predation, can be regrown.

Like all slugs, the yellow slug moves relatively slowly, gliding along using a series of muscular contractions on the underside of its foot, which is lubricated with mucus, such that it leaves a slime trail behind it.

Ecology

This species feeds mostly on fungi, decaying matter,[6] and vegetables.

Habitat

This species is strongly associated with human habitation, and is usually found in damp areas such as cellars, kitchens, and gardens. Generally speaking it is only seen at night, because it is nocturnal. Thus often it goes unnoticed and people are unaware of how (relatively) common the species is.

Parasites

Parasites of Limax flavus include the nematode Angiostoma spiridonovi.[7]

References

  1. Marshall, B. (2014). Milax gagates (Draparnaud, 1801). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=819993 on 2014-11-06
  2. Tiscali Encyclopaedia. Retrieved March 25, 2005.
  3. Kerney M.P. and Cameron R.A.D., 1979, A field guide to the land snails of Britain and north-west Europe. Collins.
  4. Balashov I. & Gural-Sverlova N. 2012. An annotated checklist of the terrestrial molluscs of Ukraine. Journal of Conchology. 41 (1): 91-109.
  5. Wiktor A., De-niu C. & Wu M. (2000). "Stylommatophoran slugs of China (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) – prodromus". Folia Malacologica 8(1): 3-35.
  6. Bennett, S. M. 2000. Yellow Slugs. Retrieved March 25, 2005.
  7. Morand, S. (1992) Angiostoma spiridonovi sp. n. (Nematoda: Angiostomatidae) from Limax flavus (Gastropoda: Limacidae). Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington 59 212–17.

External links

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