Geomalacus

Geomalacus
	drawing of Geomalacus maculosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Heterobranchia
Superorder:	Eupulmonata
Order:	Stylommatophora
Family:	Arionidae
Genus:	Geomalacus; Allman, 1843
Subgenera and species
	Geomalacus Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 - Kerry slug; ; Pollonera, 1890 Geomalacus anguiformis (Morelet, 1845); Geomalacus malagensis & Norris, 1991; Geomalacus oliveirae Simroth, 1891; ;

Geomalacus is a genus of large air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs.

Etymology[]

The Ancient Greek word geo (γη) means the Earth. The Greek word malacus (μαλαχὀς) means mollusc.

Distribution[]

Western Europe

Species[]

This genus contains the following species:^[3]^[4]

subgenus Geomalacus

Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 - Kerry slug

subgenus Pollonera, 1890^[5]

Geomalacus anguiformis (Morelet, 1845)
Geomalacus malagensis Wiktor & Norris, 1991
Geomalacus oliveirae Simroth, 1891

Description[]

Animal limaciform, subcylindrical, blunt behind, with a but little developed mucous pore; mantle anterior, close to the head, concealing a shell-plate; a distinct locomotive disk; respiratory orifice on the right anterior margin of the mantle; genital orifice behind and below the right eye-peduncle. Shell-plate calcareous, ovate, small and solid. Jaw costulated; lingual dentition as in Arion.^[6]

The main diagnostic feature of the reproductive system differing from genera Arion, Letourneuxia and Ariunculus is, that species in the genus Geomalacus has atrium with diverticulum.^[7] The free oviduct is short; the retractor muscle is attached to the spermatheca duct; vas deferens and epiphalus are long.^[7]

References[]

This article incorporates public domain text from reference.^[6]

^ Allman G. J. (1843) "On a new genus of terrestrial gasteropod". The Athenaeum 1843 (829): 851. London.
^ Pollonera C. (1890) Boll. Mus. Zool. Comp. Torino, 5, no. 87, 36.
^ Species in genus Geomalacus. AnimalBase, accessed 13 August 2009.
^ Geomalacus. Fauna Europaea, accessed 16 August 2009.
^ Pollonera C. (1890) Boll. Mus. Zool. Comp. Torino, 5, no. 87, 36.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Tryon G. W. (1885) Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata Volume 1. Testacellidae, Oleacinidae, Streptaxidae, Helicoidea, Vitrinidae, Limacidae, Arionidae. 364 pp., 60 plates, page 232, plate 45, figure 14 (radula), figure 15 (jaw).
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Platts, E. A.; Speight, M. C. D. (1988). "The taxonomy and distribution of the Kerry slug Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 (Mollusca: Arionidae) with a discussion of its status as a threatened species". Irish Naturalists' Journal. 22 (10): 417–430.

External links[]

Patrão C., de Sousa J. T., Jordaens K., Backeljau T., Castilho R. & Leitão A. (2013). "Geomalacus and Letourneuxia (Mollusca, Pulmonata): A Cytogenetic Assessment". Malacologia 56(1-2): 333-338. doi:10.4002/040.056.0222.

[1] Allman G. J. (1843) "On a new genus of terrestrial gasteropod". The Athenaeum 1843 (829): 851. London.

[2] Pollonera C. (1890) Boll. Mus. Zool. Comp. Torino, 5, no. 87, 36.

[3] Species in genus Geomalacus. AnimalBase, accessed 13 August 2009.

[4] Geomalacus. Fauna Europaea, accessed 16 August 2009.

[5] Pollonera C. (1890) Boll. Mus. Zool. Comp. Torino, 5, no. 87, 36.

[Tryon-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b Tryon G. W. (1885) Manual of Conchology. Second series: Pulmonata Volume 1. Testacellidae, Oleacinidae, Streptaxidae, Helicoidea, Vitrinidae, Limacidae, Arionidae. 364 pp., 60 plates, page 232, plate 45, figure 14 (radula), figure 15 (jaw).

[Platts-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b Platts, E. A.; Speight, M. C. D. (1988). "The taxonomy and distribution of the Kerry slug Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 (Mollusca: Arionidae) with a discussion of its status as a threatened species". Irish Naturalists' Journal. 22 (10): 417–430.

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