Mesolimax escherichi
| Mesolimax escherichi | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Mesolimax escherichi | ||||||||||||
| Simroth , 1899 |
Mesolimax escherichi is a species of slug from the family of field slugs (Agriolimacidae), which belongs to the suborder of land snails (Stylommatophora).
features
Mesolimax escherichi reaches a length of up to 59 mm when stretched out. The body is relatively robust and stocky, and always deep black. Only a narrow zone directly around the coat shield is slightly lighter. The mantle shield takes up less than a third of the total body length. The breathing hole is central to slightly shifted behind the center. The sole of the foot is divided into three parts in the longitudinal direction. The middle field shows V-shaped transverse furrows directed backwards. The side panels have three longitudinal furrows or four to five longitudinal furrows.
In the genital system, the penis is tubular and measures about 3/4 the length of the body. The spermatic duct (vas deferens) and penile retractor attach to the penis apically. The spermatic duct and the basal part of the penis are surrounded by a thin membrane. The ommatophore muscle and the penis cross each other. The sperm library is oval and comparatively small, the stem of the sperm library is shorter than the sperm library. The fallopian tube ( oviduct ) is tubular, the atrium is short.
Similar species
M. escherichi and Mittelschnegel ( Mesolimax brauni ) are anatomically very similar. M. escherichi differs from M. brauni in its body color (constant black against brown tones in M. brauni ) and in the slightly shorter penis, which reaches about 3/4 of the body length (compared to the longer penis in M. escherichi , half the body length) . The membrane that surrounds the spermatic duct and penis apically is proportionally somewhat longer. Furthermore, the side panels of the three-part sole of the foot in M. escherichi have three or more longitudinal furrows (compared to two longitudinal furrows in M. brauni ). The body also appears a little more robust compared to the somewhat slimmer body of M. brauni . The two species occasionally occur sympatric in southwestern Turkey.
Geographical distribution and habitat
The species is restricted to a small area in southwestern Anatolia around Antalya , Isparta and the Sultan Dagh Mountains . It is very rare there. The habitat is poorly known. Yildirim & Kebapci (2004) they found near river banks, along with Limax flavus ( limacus flavus ) and Mittelschnegel ( Mesolimax brauni ).
Taxonomy
The taxon was first described by Heinrich Simroth in 1899. The species is not well known.
supporting documents
literature
- Wiktor, Andrzej 1971: The nudibranchs (Milacidae and Limacidae, Pulmonata) collected by the Dutch Biological Expedition to Turkey in 1959 with a description of a new Deroceras species from the Balkans and Turkey. Zoologische Mededelingen, 45 (23): 261-280, Leiden PDF
- 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, Heraklion, Crete
- M. Zeki Yildirim & Ümit Kebapçi: Slugs (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) of the Lakes Region (Göller Bölgesi) in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 28: 155-160, Ankara 2004 PDF .