Lehmannia marginata

Family

Limacidae

Species

Lehmannia marginata (Muller, 1774)

Common name

Tree slug

Description

The tree slugSlug:
A snail that either does not possess a shell or has one that is very reduced (no definite coiling) or internal.
is variable in color, ranging from grey to reddish. There is a short keelKeel:
Also known as the carina. This is a longitudinal ridge that runs dorsally along the apex of the tail of the animal.
at the tip of the tail. The mantleMantle:
A fleshy, membranous covering of the anterior portion of the body of a mollusc. It secretes the materials that form the shell.
is very large in relation to the size of the animal (1/3 the length of the body). There are 2 dark-colored stripes on each side of the animal. The lower stripe often branches and may be difficult to see. On the other hand, the mantleMantle:
A fleshy, membranous covering of the anterior portion of the body of a mollusc. It secretes the materials that form the shell.
has three stripes, with the middle stripe being paler than the other two. The pale area between the bands on the mantleMantle:
A fleshy, membranous covering of the anterior portion of the body of a mollusc. It secretes the materials that form the shell.
forms a lyre shape (horseshoe-shaped). The pneumostomePneumostome:
This is the breathing hole on the right side of the mantle of molluscs. This allows air to pass through to the lung for gas exchange.(See also breathing pore).
(breathing pore) is located on the right, in the posteriorPosterior:
Directional term: the rear or tail end of an animal.
third of the mantleMantle:
A fleshy, membranous covering of the anterior portion of the body of a mollusc. It secretes the materials that form the shell.
. The sole is tripartiteTripartite:
Having three distinct section/regions.
(grey with a darker center). The mucus is clear and watery. There is a characteristic pale stripe running down the midline of Lehmannia marginata, and this characterCharacter:
1). A distinctive trait, quality or attribute used for recognizing, describing, or differentiating taxa; 2). The term used to denote such descriptive traits that possess states and are located within the Lucid version 2 (and later) interactive matrix panel. (compare feature)
is very useful to distinguish this species from L. valentiana. However if there is any doubt, the genitaliaGenitalia:
The reproductive structures of an animal. May refer to either male or female structure.
should be used to confirm the identity of the specimen. There is a European species called Lehmannia nyctelia that can be confused with this species. Genitalic characters are provided below for species determination.

The following species can be separated by dissection and observation of their genitaliaGenitalia:
The reproductive structures of an animal. May refer to either male or female structure.
:

Lehmannia marginata: The appendix on the penis of this species tapers to a point. It should be noted that the appendix might be inverted in this species.

L. valentiana: The appendix on the penis of this species is somewhat tubular or the apexApex:
The tip of the spire of a shell.
may appear expanded.

L. nyctelia: The appendix is lacking in this species.

Native range

Europe

Distribution

North America:

• U.S.: Oklahoma

Australasia: New Zealand

Europe

Ecology

This species inhabits gardens, forests, and open habitat but are rarely encountered in intensively cultivated lowland areas. Lehmannia marginata consusumes algae, lichen and mushroom. In the absence of prefered food material this species is reported to consume other molluscMollusc:
Common name for animals in the phylum Mollusca. These are invertebrate animals, which have soft unsegmented bodies and may or may not possess a shell. This group includes gastropods (slugs and snails), cephalopods (octopus) and bivalves (clams, oysters).
species that are already dead, but are not known to attack other gastropods. Clutches of between 8-30 eggs are deposited in the soil and depending on temperature may incubate for approximately 35-130 days. Maturity is achieved in 8-10 months and longevity is approximately 2.5-3 years.

Synonyms

• Limax arborum Bouchard-Chantereaux, 1838
• Limax livonicus Schrenk, 1848
• Limax marginatus Muller, 1774

References

Abbes 2010; Anderson 2005; Branson 1980; Cowie 1997; Forsyth 2004; Horsak 2004; Kantor et al. 2009; Kerney et al. 1979; McDonnell et al. 2009; Thomas et al. 2010