Tandonia nigra

Tandonia nigra is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Milacidae.

Map showing the area between Lake Como and Lugano lake, where Tandonia nigra occurs.

Tandonia nigra
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:
Parmacelloidea
Family:
Milacidae
Genus:
Tandonia
Species:
T. nigra
Binomial name
Tandonia nigra
(C. Pfeiffer, 1894)[2]
Synonyms

Amalia nigra Pfeiffer, 1894

Distribution

This slug species is endemic to north Italy and south Switzerland: Monte Generoso and Baraghetto peaks, east and west slopes, between Lake Como and Lugano lake.

The type locality is the peak of Monte Generoso, a mentioned altitude of 1695 m above sea level.[2]

This species is known only from mountains peaks and east- and west- exposed slopes, at 1500–1700 m. It is an endemic species with a small range. The Swiss habitats are threatened by mass tourism; this species is Critically Endangered in Switzerland.[3]

Description

The slug is basically black, although the mantle is cream with very dense black spots. The tentacles are white with black dots, and when they are contracted they appear black. The neck and anterior sides are a dirty cream in color, as is the sole of the foot.[3]

The body length of preserved specimens is up to 35 mm; the width of the body of preserved specimens is up to 7 mm.[3]

Reproductive system: The penis is subdivided in two sections. The epiphallus is shorter and slightly widening at its posterior end. The vas deferens opens slightly asymmetrically. The oviduct is thin; the spermatheca is elongate with a short duct. The vagina is almost as long as the penis, with various accessory glands like short bundles surrounding the section between the oviduct and the vagina. The atrium is tubular, like a prolongation of the penis.[3]

The peak of Monte Generoso is the type locality for Tandonia nigra

Ecology

This slug seems to be active at night. It is presumably to be herbivorous.[3]

Copulation occurs in July. Adults, semiadults and juveniles were observed simultaneously from May to October. The life cycle must take at least 2 years.[3]

References

This article incorporates public domain text from the reference.[3]

  1. Nardi, G. 2017. Tandonia nigra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T21385A85575878. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T21385A85575878.en. Downloaded on 11 January 2019.
  2. Pfeiffer C. (1894). "Kleine Reiseergebnisse". Nachrichtsblatt der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft 26: 68-71. Frankfurt am Main.
  3. "Species summary for Tandonia nigra". AnimalBase, last modified 22 December 2008, accessed 26 August 2010.
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