Geomalacus
Genus of gastropods
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geomalacus is a genus of large air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs.
| Geomalacus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| drawing of Geomalacus maculosus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Arionidae |
| Genus: | Geomalacus Allman, 1843[1] |
| Subgenera and species | |
| |
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 Arrudia Pollonera, 1890[5]
- Geomalacus anguiformis (Morelet, 1845)
- Geomalacus malagensis Wiktor & Norris, 1991
- known by some as Geomalacus moreleti (Hesse, 1884)[6]
- 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.[7]
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.[8] The free oviduct is short; the retractor muscle is attached to the spermatheca duct; vas deferens and epiphalus are long.[8]