Limacus

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Limacus
Beer snail (Limacus flavus)

Beer snail ( Limacus flavus )

Systematics
Order : Lung snails (pulmonata)
Subordination : Land snails (Stylommatophora)
Superfamily : Limacoidea
Family : Schnegel (Limacidae)
Subfamily : Limacinae
Genre : Limacus
Scientific name
Limacus
Lehmann , 1864

Limacus is a genus (or subgenus) of the nudibranch family of snails (Limacidae) from the suborder of land snails (Stylommatophora). It used to be seen mostly as a subgenus of Limax or as a synonym of Limax . In many more recent works it is now understood as a separate genus, in other works as a sub-genus of Limax . The genus currently only includes two species, which were originally restricted to southern Europe. In the meantime, however, one of the two species has been anthropogenic almost worldwide and, as a neozoa, can cause considerable damage to cultivated and garden plants.

features

The two representatives of the genus Limacus grow to be about 7 to 13 cm long and are comparatively slender. The keel is short and indistinct. The color is variable, but yellow to green tones predominate. The color pattern consists of irregular, not arranged in rows or groups, darker spots. The intestine has three loops, of which the third loop is very short. The two species of the genus also have a long appendix (in contrast to other genera of the Schnegel). The bursa copulatorix has a connection to the fallopian tube (not to the penis as in the other genera of the Limacinae). The penis is shorter than half the length of the body. Prostate and uterus, both close together, extend almost to the atrium, where they unite not far from the albumin gland. The spermoviduct is therefore very short.

Geographical distribution, habitat and way of life

The range of the two species was originally probably restricted to southern and western Europe. In the meantime, at least the beer snail has been anthropogenic not only carried across Europe, but also worldwide to temperate climates. The original distribution area is therefore very difficult to define. The beer snails, which used to be common in cellars as a cultural follower of humans, have become rare today due to better storage of food supplies, and in some regions they are even threatened with extinction. Both species eat dead, and rarely fresh, plant material.

Taxonomy

The taxon was first scientifically described by Rudolf Lehmann in 1864 . The only species of the new genus was Limacus breckworthianus , a supposedly new species from "Breckworth" (location could not be located), State of Victoria , Australia. Later it turned out that this species is a younger synonym of Limacus flavus (Linnaeus, 1758) (beer snail), a European species that had already been introduced to Australia at that time. Limacus was usually viewed as a subgenus of Limax or as a younger synonym of Limax . Today Limacus is rated partly as an independent genus within the subfamily Limacinae, partly as a subgenus of Limax .

Currently, only two species are (definitely) placed in the genus:

  • Beer snail ( Limacus flavus (Linnaeus, 1758))
  • Greenhorn ( Limacus maculatus (Kalenczenko, 1851))

Two other types are unsafe. They are rated as good species by Evans (1986) , but Wiktor (2001) rejects them as younger synonyms of Limacus maculatus :

  • Limacus pseudoflavus Evans, 1978
  • Limacus grossui Lupu, 1971

supporting documents

literature

  • Klaus Bogon: Land snails biology, ecology, biotope protection. 404 p., Natur Verlag, Augsburg 1990 ISBN 3-89440-002-1
  • Rosina Fechter and Gerhard Falkner: molluscs. 287 pp., Mosaik-Verlag, Munich 1990 (Steinbach's Nature Guide 10) ISBN 3-570-03414-3
  • Jürgen H. Jungbluth and Dietrich von Knorre: Common names of land and freshwater mollusks in Germany (Gastropoda et Bivalvia). Mollusca, 26 (1): 105-156, Dresden 2008 ISSN  1864-5127 PDF
  • Michael P. Kerney, RAD Cameron & Jürgen H. Jungbluth: The land snails of Northern and Central Europe. 384 pp., Paul Parey, Hamburg & Berlin 1983 ISBN 3-490-17918-8
  • Anatolij A. Schileyko: Treatise on Recent Terrestrial Pulmonate Molluscs Part 11 Trigonochlamydidae, Papillodermidae, Vitrinidae, Limacidae, Bielziidae, Agriolimacidae, Boettgerillidae, Camaenidae. Ruthenica, Supplement 2 (11): 1467-1626, Moscow 2003 ISSN  0136-0027
  • Andrzej Wiktor: The Polish Nudibranchs. 182 p., Monograph Fauny Polski, Polska Akademia Nauk Zakład Zoologii Systematycznej i Doświadczalnej, Warsaw & Kraków 1973.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Rudolf Lehmann: New nudibranch from Australia. Malakozoologische Blätter, 11: 145-149, Cassel 1864 Online at Biodiversity Heritage Library .
  2. ↑ Fauna Europaea - Limacus
  3. ^ Molluscs of Central Europe - Genus Limacus
  4. ↑ AnimalBase - Limacus
  5. ^ NJ Evans, NJ 1986: The Status of Limax maculatus (Kaleniczenko 1851), Limax Grossui Lupu 1970, and Limaxpseudoflavus Evans 1978 (Gastropoda, Limacidae). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 138 (2): 576-588, Philadelphia Stable URL .
  6. ^ Wiktor, Andrzej 2001: Fauna Graeciae. VIII. The slugs of Greece (Arionidae, Milacidae, Limacidae, Agriolimacidae - Gastropoda, Stylommatophora). 240 p., Natural History Museum of Crete & Hellenic Zoologic Society, Iraklio, Crete (p. 86/7)
  7. ^ Lupu, D. 1970: Contribution à l'étude des limacides de Roumanie. Travaux du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle 'Grigore Antipa' 10: 61-71, Bucureşti.

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