Limax dacampi

Limax dacampi
A live Limax cf. dacampi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
clade limacoid clade
Superfamily: Limacoidea
Family: Limacidae
Subfamily: Limacinae
Genus: Limax
Species: L. dacampi
Binomial name
Limax dacampi
Menegazzi, 1854

Limax dacampi (by other authors Limax dacampoi) is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Limacidae, the keelback slugs.

Etymology

Luigi Menegazzi named this species in honor of the malacologist Benedetto Da Campo.

Taxonomy

For the time being, this is a problematic taxon; it may be a complex of closely related species. Limax dacampi is definitely not a synonym of Limax cinereoniger or Limax maximus; it is a separate species. This species was recently again found at the type locality near Garda (VR) (Lake Garda, Italy) and the copulatory behavior has been documented. The copulation of Limax dacampi is broadly similar to that of Limax maximus, but shows its own distinctive characteristics.

Description

A live individual of Limax cf. dacampi

Limax dacampi reaches a length of about 20 centimetres (7.9 in). The body is reddish with two dark bands along the sides or dark spots on the back, excluding the mantle. The head and tentacles are grayish. The sole is light-colored.

Distribution

This species is known to occur in the northern Italian mainland and in southern Switzerland.

Habitat

The species is found in a variety of habitats. It prefers moist and shady forests and bushland.

Subspecies and varieties

The species has been divided into several subspecies and numerous varieties. Some of these subspecies and varieties may be distinct species (or subspecies) within the species complex Limax dacampi.

A dorsal view of a live Limax cf. dacampi

Bibliography


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/31/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.