The largest eggs are more elongate, being 8.5 mm × 4.25 mm (0.335 by 0.167 inches); the smallest are more ovoid and are 6 mm × 3 mm (0.24 in × 0.12 in). prohibit the deliberate or non-deliberate ‘deterioration or destruction of breeding sites or resting places’. The Kerry slug or Kerry spotted slug, scientific name Geomalacus maculosus, is a rare species of medium-sized to large air-breathing land slug.It is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs.. An adult Kerry slug generally measures 7–8 cm (2.8–3.2 in) in length and is a dark grey colour with yellowish spots. The Kerry slug has an internal shell or shell plate that resembles those found in land slugs of the genus Limax; it is ovoid, solid and chalky with a transparent conchiolin (horny) base. As the Threat Response Plan noted, species monitoring is a process in which distribution and status of the subject are evaluated systematically over time. [40], This article incorporates public domain text from Taylor (1907). [7], In the Kerry slug, the cephalic retractors (muscles for pulling in the head) are very similar to those in Arion species. waterford-news.ie/2019/1... 5 comments. Unlike most slugs, its main habitats are woodlands and fields, rather than urban areas. [7], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (. Kerry slugs can also elongate themselves within crevices up to 12 cm (4.8 in). Although the distribution of this slug species includes south-western Ireland—including County Kerry—the species is more widespread in north-western Spain and central-to-northern Portugal. III. 1 offspring of three species of arionid slug, resulting in a loss of ‘species-specific’ colour character-istics. The median teeth are small, have one cusp and are slightly shouldered. The Kerry slug is not considered an agricultural pest, unlike some other slugs in the family Arionidae. [9], The body length of adult Kerry slugs is 7–8 cm (2.8–3.2 in). Posted by. Other potential dangers to the species are climate change and air pollution, which negatively affect the lichens eaten by the Kerry slug. … [10], It was once thought that Geomalacus maculosus lives only in wild habitats. "British slugs (Pulmonata; Testacellidae, Arionidae, Limacidae". Adapting existing legislation. This species is known only from south-western Ireland and the north-western part of the Iberian peninsula. The Kerry slug (Geomalacus maculosus) is protected by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. 1 day ago. These species are afforded protection throughout the … The Kerry spotted slug Geomalacus maculosus (Allman) is unusual in that it appears to possess disrup-tive patterning as well as background-matching colour-ation which may provide different degrees of … Slugs, in general, are omnivorous. 13. The Kerry slug or Kerry spotted slug, scientific name Geomalacus maculosus, is a rare species of medium-sized to large air-breathing land slug.It is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs. An adult Kerry slug generally measures 7–8 cm (2.8–3.2 in) in length and is dark grey or brownish in colour, with yellowish spots. "Fauna, Invertebrados, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, "Problems with plan for protection of slugs", "How did pygmy shrews colonize Ireland? Its habitat in Ireland is woodland and bogs within the sandstone areas of Kerry and West Cork. [30], Despite its first discovery at Caragh Lake and its English common name of Kerry slug, Ireland is at the periphery of this slug species' distribution; in terms of genetic diversity the distribution is centred on the north-western parts of the Iberian peninsula. This turns into the free oviduct after the vas deferens carrying the sperm branches off. The hermaphroditic duct, where sperm is stored, is long and convoluted, and ends in a small, spherical, seminal vesicle. [24] Similar distribution patterns have been observed in other species of animals and plants. The surface texture of this area resembles the underside of undyed leather; it is spotted with pale, buff or light-coloured spots that are similar to those on the body but are more uniformly distributed. The project is located at the Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire, England. TV. The Kerry slug is a gastropod, a class of molluscs that includes all snails and slugs, including terrestrial, freshwater and marine species. Given that the slug has thus far been recorded exclusively at locations in Ireland and north-western Iberia, it can be said to tentatively possess a Lusitanian distribution. The Kerry slug, a species found in large numbers on the greenway route. Apparently it is the only slug that can roll into a ball. Danny Healy-Rae: Are these slugs wearing Kerry jerseys? A Kerry slug habitat assessment survey was undertaken in April 2018to determine the extent of suitable habitat for the Kerry It is not found in limestone areas. There has been speculation that G. maculosus was introduced to Ireland from Iberia by prehistoric humans; a similar introduction appears to have happened with the Eurasian pygmy shrew. Climate change will probably affect the Iberian populations more acutely because the climate there is already hot and dry relative to that of Ireland, which is generally cool and damp. [10][40] In the wild, the Kerry slug can live for up to seven years[10] but in captivity, the lifespan rarely exceeds three years. These lyre-shaped markings become indistinct as the slugs grow larger. Blackwater River (Kerry) Special Area of Conservation (site code IE002173) Blackwater River (Kerry) Special Area of Conservation is selected for a single habitat listed on Annex I of the Habitats Directive 4030 European dry heaths The site is also selected for the following species listed on Annex II of the same directive: 1024 Geomalacus maculosus Kerry Slug 1029 Margaritifera margaritifera … Under this definition, no monitoring of the Kerry Slug had been undertaken in Ireland as of May 2010. [7], In the Kerry slug, as in all species within the family Arionidae, the alimentary canal of the digestive system forms two loops.[21]. It was most likely carried there by forestry machinery but it raises new issues of management & protection. (2006). The cephalic (head) gland known as Semper's organ is well developed and shows as two strong, flattened lobes. The next year, Allman exhibited them at the Dublin Natural History Society and published a formal description of the new species and genus in the London literary magazine The Athenaeum. At first glance, the rugged landscapes of the Gap of Dunloe might not seem like the most welcoming habitat for animals, but you would be surprised to know just how rich in wildlife this region is. Birds, mammals, fish, and even the Kerry Slug all call this part of the world their home. The Kerry slug has a discontinuous or disjunct distribution; it is found only in Ireland—mostly the south-western corner—[22] in north-western Spain, and central-to-northern Portugal. Within Ireland the habitat of G. maculosus has, until relatively recently, been believed to be re-stricted to the sandstone geology of the south-west of Ireland (west counties Cork and Kerry). Many of its anatomical features are shared with species in the genus Arion, which is a more species-rich and widely distributed group of slugs within Arionidae. [7] The bodies of preserved juvenile specimens are up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long with a mantle length of 10 mm (0.39 in). It was once thought that Geomalacus maculosus lives only in wild habitats. The Kerry Slug cannot be accused of being a pest as it is only found in the wild landscapes of the south and west. [45] The principal mechanisms used by the Directive to protect habitats and species are the creation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and the protection of species independently of their habitats by other means. It feeds on lichens, liverworts, mosses and fungi, which grow on boulders and tree trunks. The occurrence of the wind farm within the known range of Kerry Slug (Geomalacus maculosus) together with the presenceof suitable habitat throughout the site suggests the likely presence of the species. The Kerry slug has been protected since 1990 under the Irish. [6] The English-language common name is derived from County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland, where the type specimens that were used for the formal scientific description were collected. The Kerry Slug loves the humidity and warmth that the south west of Ireland offers it and it lives on the many mosses and lichens found in this part of Ireland. The synonyms are other binomial names that were given over time to this taxon by authors who were unaware that the specimens they were describing belonged to a species already described by Allman. Since 2006, Geomalacus maculosus has been considered a least concern species in the IUCN Red List;[1] between 1994 and 2006, however, the slug was rated as vulnerable.[24]. Overgrazing by sheep, pollution, and loss of habitat have threatened it. In fact, a better suiting description would be a generalist that feeds a plethora of organic matters including leaves of living plants, lichens and mushrooms some slugs are even found to feed on small fruits such as strawberries. The ovotestis—a combination of ovary and testis—is small, compact and darkly pigmented. In Ireland, seven Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) have been designated for its conservation. In other individuals, the ribs extend across the jaw, making both the upper and the cutting edges of the jaw clearly toothed in outline. The central part, situated close to the genital pore, has a pointed end. There are historical desktop records from the NBDC online (“1910-1965”) for Kerry slug within the 10 km square in which the Proposed Development site is located. [52], Since 1990, the Kerry slug has been successfully bred in captivity. Allman, G. J. The species' binomial name is sometimes written as Geomalacus (Geomalacus) maculosus because the genus Geomalacus contains two subgenera; the nominate subgenus (subgenus of the same name) Geomalacus and a second subgenus Arrudia Pollonera, 1890. The Kerry Slug, Geomalacus maculosus (Arionidae), which is restricted globally to Ireland and the northern Iberian Peninsula, is protected under European law. This decision was backed by studies of its distribution and ecology in Ireland,[18] which concluded that evidence of a decline in Iberia and uncertainty over its status in Ireland tended to support its inclusion in the Convention. [18] The elongated portion of the atrium further from the genital pore than the insertion of the oviduct is termed the atrial diverticulum. In juveniles the shield shows lyre-shaped markings, as is the case in slugs of the genus Arion. Commission v Ireland C-183/05. ", "Land and freshwater shells peculiar to the British Isles", "Note on the geographical distribution of, Bridges & Species: Post-Glacial Colonisation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerry_slug&oldid=989681440, Taxa named by George Allman (natural historian), Articles with German-language sources (de), Articles with French-language sources (fr), Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Articles with dead external links from May 2017, All Wikipedia articles written in Irish English, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2019, Taxonbars using multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, establish ‘a system of strict protection’ for listed species, prohibit ‘deliberate disturbance … particularly during the period of breeding, rearing, hibernation and migration’, prohibit ‘deliberate destruction or taking of eggs from the wild’. "Irish non-marine molluscs – an evaluation of species threat status". [37], The food of Geomalacus maculosus includes lichens, liverworts, mosses, fungi (Fistulina hepatica)[18] and bacteria that grow on boulders and on tree trunks. All are semi-translucent, milky-white or opalescent when fresh,[42] although some of the larger and more elongate eggs have a semi-transparent area at the smaller end. Dagli occhi partono due fiamme (una per occhio) che finiscono sulla testa, queste sono di colore rosso, come tutto il corpo di Slugma, e solo alla punta diventano più chiare. More recently, the Kerry Slug has been found in Connemara. Kerry slug … The Kerry slug lives in just a few places in the world—southwestern Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. [23][32], In Spain, the distribution of this species includes coastal locations in Galicia and extends through the Cantabrian Mountains as far east as Mount Ganekogorta in the Basque Country. The Kerry slug is placed in the genus Geomalacus, which means "earth mollusc". The vas deferens and the bursa duct open nearly together into the far extremity of the atrium, the duct into which both the male and the female systems open and which connects to the outside via the genital pore. [18] The sexual organs, called atria—singular:atrium—are funnel-shaped with fluted edges after mating. Unlike most slugs, its main habitats are woodlands and fields, rather than urban areas. In Ireland, it also occurs in upland conifer plantations and areas of clear-fell. Descriptions of some of these Annex II species can be found on the website of the UK Joint … It is absent from limestone areas. The slug is widespread in the Old Red Sandstone areas of the National Park and populations there are contiguous with those outside the National Park boundaries. [19], In Geomalacus maculosus, the atrial diverticulum is longer than the bursa duct; this situation is reversed in Geomalacus anguiformis.[18]. Revision of the genus, "Checklist of protected & rare species in Ireland", "Wildlife Act, 1976 (Protection of Wild Animals) Regulations, 1990", Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Kerry Slug Survey of Ireland (Official Website), Distribution and population dynamics of the Kerry Slug, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, British Association for the Advancement of Science, "EU-protected slug Geomalacus maculosus and sympatric Lehmannia marginata in conifer plantations: what does mark-recapture method reveal about population densities? The most serious threat to the Kerry slug is probably the modification of habitat, which reduces its lichen and moss food sources. [10] These slugs are difficult to measure accurately because of their unusual startle response. The Kerry slug, a member of the order Panpulmonata, is terrestrial; it breathes air with a lung. [8] The Kerry slug has been included in molecular phylogenetics studies since 2001. [36] In Iberia, juvenile Kerry slugs become active during twilight and adults become active at night, especially on rainy or very humid nights. Endangered Kerry slug could suffer unmitigated noise pollution if Kerry greenway get green light. When touched, Kerry slugs roll up into a ball, like a hedgehog, a habit still unique among Ireland’s 32 slug species. In the Iberian Peninsula, it occurs on tree trunks in oak (Quercus) and chestnut (Castanea) forest but it is easiest to find in synanthropic habitats such as rocky walls in oak or chestnut orchards, in ruins, near houses, churches and cemeteries. The internal anatomy of the slug has some unusual features and some characteristic differences from the genus Arion, also part of Arionidae. One of the wonders of Kerry is its diversity. When these bands are present they usually extend the whole length of the body and are overspread by numerous, ovoid yellow spots that are distributed approximately in five longitudinal zones. share. [18] Platts & Speight [18] considered the depiction by Godwin-Austen (1882)[14] to be the most accurate of those by earlier authors; others depicted the atrium too short. Special care … More research is being undertaken with NPWS funding on the distribution of Kerry Slug in conifer plantations and the impact of clear felling on these populations. [30][50], In a report to the European Commission covering 1988–2007, the conservation status of the species in Ireland was declared "favourable (FV)" in all evaluated criteria; range, population, habitat and future prospects. It is absent from limestone areas. It is now known to be less dependent on sensitive, wild habitats than when these laws were introduced. The Kerry slug is dark gray or brown with… Read More; Leopard Slug The body of a fixed (preserved) adult specimen was 7 cm (2.8 in) long with a mantle length of 3 cm (1.2 in). It is listed under Annex II of the Habitats Directive and seven Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) have been designated for the species with a combined total area of approximately 95,337 hectares. The Kerry spotted slug Geomalacus maculosus has a restricted European range and may be threatened by loss of habitat. [10][44] The validity of this assessment, however, was put into question by the European Court of Justice ruling that held that Ireland was not monitoring the slug properly. The pharyngeal (throat) retractor muscle is furcate (split) where it attaches to the back of the buccal bulb (mouth bulb); its other end is anchored on the right side of the body, just behind the site of attachment of the right tentacular muscle.[7]. The habitat of the Kerry Slug in Ireland is woodland and bogs within the sandstone areas of Kerry and west Cork. Sites were selected on the basis that previous surveys had found high numbers of Kerry slugs in these areas [30, 33, 34, 35]. [7], Behind the animal's head is the shield-shaped outer surface of the mantle, which is about a third of the length of the body when the slug is actively crawling and thus extended; when the slug is stationary and contracted, the shield is about half the length of the body. With the extra warmth and rain of climate change, perhaps conifer forestry could offer these slugs a new habitat. [24] In the Iberian Peninsula, it occurs on tree trunks in oak (Quercus) and chestnut (Castanea) forest but it is easiest to find in synanthropic habitats such as rocky walls in oak or chestnut orchards, in ruins, near houses, churches and cemeteries. The atrial diverticulum has been proposed to be the functional equivalent, homoplasy) of a penis, acting as a copulatory organ. In the marginal series, however, the ectocone gradually grows in size and importance as the margin is approached while the mesocone becomes almost correspondingly diminished. The EC (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997. In conjunction with the Valentia Heritage Society, GSI drew up a plan, adopted by Dúchas, and the site, which was discovered in 1993, was purchased by the State. [46] Its conservation status in Spain for the IUCN criteria is vulnerable.[32]. The Kerry slug will suffer from “unmitigated noise disturbance” and habitat loss in the construction of the 32km South Kerry Greenway, a hearing in Tralee was told today. Blackwater River (Kerry) Special Area of Conservation (site code IE002173) Blackwater River (Kerry) Special Area of Conservation is selected for a single habitat listed on Annex I of the Habitats Directive 4030 European dry heaths The site is also selected for the following species listed on Annex II of the same directive: 1024 Geomalacus maculosus Kerry Slug 1029 Margaritifera margaritifera … Within woodland the adults can be found on tree trucks and boulders always close to water. [40], The young appear to hatch in six[40] to eight weeks, at this stage the spots on the body are barely present. But as 44 acres of the slug habitat will be lost during construction work, Cork County Council has been ordered to recreate 45 acres of new compensatory habitat in the general area. Kerry slug – favourable conservation status but Irish population is important in a global context as the Iberian populations are severely threatened.