Pallifera costaricensis

Family

Philomycidae

Species

Pallifera costaricensis (Morch, 1857)

Common name

Costa Rica mantleslug

Description

This species can attain a length of 45 mm. It is pale tan to brown in color, with dark colored markings on the sides. Towards the headHead:
The area of a mollusc's body that has the tentacles, eyes and mouth.
of the animal, there is a bandBand:
In slugs: Any transverse line (runs from side to side, or vertically e.g., on the foot fringe). In snails: A section of a shell that is differentiated by color or texture from either side of it.
(running the widthWidth:
The width of the shell is the maximum distance across the shell (including the aperture).
of the body) that is jet-black and thick. The sole is undivided, but the edge is dark gray. The tentaclesTentacles:
Sensory projections on the head end of a mollusc. There are generally two pairs; upper (posterior) and smaller, lower (anterior). The upper pair bears the eyes. In many snails the eyes are located at the tips of this structure; however, in Basommatophoran snail species, the eyes are located at the base of the tentacles.
also are dark gray. It should be noted that this species has an extensive mantleMantle:
A fleshy, membranous covering of the anterior portion of the body of a mollusc. It secretes the materials that form the shell.
that covers the entire back (excluding the headHead:
The area of a mollusc's body that has the tentacles, eyes and mouth.
) of the animal.

Native range

Central America

Distribution

South and Central America

Ecology

This species has been intercepted in cut flowers.

References

Baker 1930