Laevicaulis alte (Férussac, 1822)
- Dataset
- English Wikipedia - Species Pages
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- species
- Laevicaulis alte
Abstract
Laevicaulis alte, the tropical leatherleaf, is a species of tropical land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Description
Laevicaulis alte is a round, dark-coloured slug with no shell, 7 or 8 cm long. Its skin is slightly tuberculated. The central keel is beige in colour. This slug has a unique, very narrow foot; juvenile specimens have a foot 1 mm wide and adult specimens have a foot that is only 4 or 5 mm wide. The tentacles are small, 2 or 3 mm long, and they are only rarely extended beyond the edge of the mantle. View of contracted individual, the anterior end is to the right
Distribution
This species is probably indigenous to Africa (western Africa and eastern Africa).
TanzaniaRowson B., Warren B. H. & Ngereza C. F. (2010). "Terrestrial molluscs of Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, and its status as an "oceanic" island". ZooKeys 70: 1-39. .
It has been introduced and become an invasive species in the following areas:
southern Asia Pratas Island, TaiwanWu S.-P., Hwang C.-C., Huang H.-M., Chang H.-W., Lin Y.-S. & Lee P.-F. (2007). "Land Molluscan Fauna of the Dongsha Island with Twenty New Recorded Species". Taiwania 52(2): 145-151. Original. United States (Hawaii) islands in the Indian Ocean Australia (since 1889) Samoa and others
This species is already established in the USA, and is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.Cowie R. H., Dillon R. T., Robinson D. G. & Smith J. W. (2009). "Alien non-marine snails and slugs of priority quarantine importance in the United States: A preliminary risk assessment". American Malacological Bulletin 27: 113-132. PDF .
TanzaniaRowson B., Warren B. H. & Ngereza C. F. (2010). "Terrestrial molluscs of Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, and its status as an "oceanic" island". ZooKeys 70: 1-39. .
It has been introduced and become an invasive species in the following areas:
southern Asia Pratas Island, TaiwanWu S.-P., Hwang C.-C., Huang H.-M., Chang H.-W., Lin Y.-S. & Lee P.-F. (2007). "Land Molluscan Fauna of the Dongsha Island with Twenty New Recorded Species". Taiwania 52(2): 145-151. Original. United States (Hawaii) islands in the Indian Ocean Australia (since 1889) Samoa and others
This species is already established in the USA, and is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.Cowie R. H., Dillon R. T., Robinson D. G. & Smith J. W. (2009). "Alien non-marine snails and slugs of priority quarantine importance in the United States: A preliminary risk assessment". American Malacological Bulletin 27: 113-132. PDF .
Feeding habits
What this slug eats in the wild is not known. In captivity this slug will eat:
Dandelion leaves Tomatoes - it nibbles the skin first and then the pulp cucumber apples spinach carrot When other items are not available, it will eat dill
In captivity it will not eat:
grapes
Dandelion leaves Tomatoes - it nibbles the skin first and then the pulp cucumber apples spinach carrot When other items are not available, it will eat dill
In captivity it will not eat:
grapes
Habitat
This species lives in dry areas, mostly at lower altitudes. Ventral view of foot of juvenile specimen
Life cycle
This slug hatches from eggs. This species has several adaptations for living in dry conditions: a rounded shape with as small as possible surface area, and a narrow foot to reduce evaporation. Juvenile specimens search for food nearly always at night, and stay buried in the soil during the day. Larger specimens are active during the day sometimes. This slug can grow up from 0.5 cm to approximately 4 cm in length in 7 months.
Parasites
This slug is an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, a round worm, the most common cause of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis.
Predators
This slug is eaten by the frog Rana tigrina.
Name
- Homonyms
- Laevicaulis alte (Férussac, 1822)