Arion (genus)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arion
Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris)

Spanish slug ( Arion vulgaris )

Systematics
Order : Lung snails (pulmonata)
Subordination : Land snails (Stylommatophora)
Superfamily : Arionoidea
Family : Slugs (Arionidae)
Genre : Arion
Scientific name
Arion
Férussac , 1819

The genus Arion is the eponymous genus of the family of slugs (Arionidae) from the subordination of land snails (Stylommatophora). It is a species-rich genus from small to large nudibranchs. The species are often very similar and difficult to identify.

features

The species of the genus Arion are stretched out to max. about 20 cm long. The breathing hole is in front of the middle of the mantle shield. There is no keel. A mucous gland sits above the tip of the tail. The housing is usually completely reduced except for a few limestone bodies.

Reproduction

The animals are hermaphrodites and fertilize each other. The partners wrap around each other and alternately introduce the epiphalli (organ of formation of the sperm) into the genital opening and transfer the spermatophores (semen packages) internally. Depending on the species, up to 400 eggs are deposited in one or more clutches in the ground.

Way of life and occurrence

The species of the genus Arion were originally limited to Europe with a few exceptions. As the name implies, Arion sibiricus occurs in Northern Asia. Today, however, many species have been introduced almost worldwide in the temperate latitudes. All species of the genus are herbivores, but they also eat carrion. With high population densities, some species can also be perceived as pests on useful plants, especially the Spanish slug ( Arion vulgaris ).

Systematics

The genus Arion is divided by some authors into four sub- genres . This subdivision is not used by other authors or is classified as unsatisfactory.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ z. B. Rosina Fechter, Gerhard Falkner: Mollusks. 1990, p. 194ff.
  2. ^ Molluscs of Central Europe
  3. ^ A b G. Manganelli, M. Bodon, F. Giusti: The status of Arion alpinus Pollonera 1887, and re-description of Arion obesoductus Reischütz 1973 (Gastropoda, Arionidae). In: Journal of Conchology. 40, 2010, pp. 269-276. (Abstract)
  4. ↑ K. Breugelmans, K. Jordaens, E. Adriaens, JP Remon, JQ Cardona, T. Backeljau: DNA barcodes and phylogenetic affinities of the terrestrial slugs Arion gilvus and A. ponsi (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Arionidae). In: ZT Nagy, T. Backeljau, M. De Meyer, K. Jordaens (eds.): DNA barcoding: a practical tool for fundamental and applied biodiversity research. (= ZooKeys. 365). 2013, pp. 83-104. doi: 10.3897 / zookeys.365.6104 .

literature

  • Rosina Fechter, Gerhard Falkner: Mollusks. (= Steinbach's natural guide 10). Mosaik-Verlag, Munich 1990, ISBN 3-570-03414-3 .
  • Michael P. Kerney, RAD Cameron, Jürgen H. Jungbluth: The land snails of Northern and Central Europe. Paul Parey, Hamburg / Berlin 1983, ISBN 3-490-17918-8 .
  • Andrzej Wiktor: The nudibranchs of Poland Arionidae, Milacidae, Limacidae (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). (= Monograph Fauny Polski. I). Polska Akademia Zakład Zoologii Systematycznej i Doświadczalnej, Kraków 1973, DNB 770325319 .

Web links

Commons : Arion  - collection of images, videos and audio files