Deroceras
Encyclopedia
Deroceras is a taxonomic genus
of small to medium sized, air-breathing, land slug
s, terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Agriolimacidae
.
The mucus of the brown slug is thin, clear, and colorless. When the grey garden slug is distressed, the mucus is milky and sticky.
The taxonomy, anatomy and other aspects of the biology of this genus have been reviewed by Wiktor (2000). Reise (2007) reviewed the fascinating and diverse mating behaviour.
There are 123 species in the genus Deroceras.
subgenus Deroceras Rafinesque, 1820
subgenus Liolytopelte Simroth, 1901
the grey field slug) is a serious pest to agriculture
and horticulture
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small to medium sized, air-breathing, land slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s, terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Agriolimacidae
Agriolimacidae
Agriolimacidae is a family of small and medium sized land slugs, or shell-less snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.- Distribution :Distribution of Limacidae is Holarctic, this include: Nearctic, western Palearctic and eastern Palearctic....
.
Description
These slugs are light gray or brown to black-brown, and their coloring is usually mottled. The brown species usually grow to around 25 mm long, and the grey garden or field species can grow as large as 50 mm long.The mucus of the brown slug is thin, clear, and colorless. When the grey garden slug is distressed, the mucus is milky and sticky.
The taxonomy, anatomy and other aspects of the biology of this genus have been reviewed by Wiktor (2000). Reise (2007) reviewed the fascinating and diverse mating behaviour.
Species
The most recent and authoritative monograph dealing with this genus is Wiktor (2000). In it Wiktor rejects earlier attempts (including his own) at a subgeneric (Agriolimax Mörch, 1865, Plathystimulus Wiktor, 1973) classification because there appear to be so many convergences and reversals. The only exception was that he split off Liolytopelte as a subgenus because of its distinctive hard plate within the penis; all other species were included in the subgenus Deroceras.There are 123 species in the genus Deroceras.
subgenus Deroceras Rafinesque, 1820
- Deroceras abessinicum
- Deroceras adolphi
- Deroceras afer
- Deroceras agresteDeroceras agresteDeroceras agreste is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.This species is considered to be a pest.-Distribution:This species is not listed in IUCN red list - not evaluated ....
- Deroceras altaicum
- Deroceras altimirai
- Deroceras astypalaeensis
- Deroceras bakurianumDeroceras bakurianumDeroceras bakurianum is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.Its specific name is after its type locality, which is in Bakuriani.- Distribution :...
- Deroceras barceum
- Deroceras berytensis
- Deroceras bisacchianum
- Deroceras bistimulatum Wiktor, 2000
- Deroceras boeoticum
- Deroceras boettgeri
- Deroceras bulgaricum
- Deroceras cazioti
- Deroceras chevallieri
- Deroceras christae
- Deroceras chrysorroyatissensis
- Deroceras concrementosum
- Deroceras cycladicum
- Deroceras dallaii
- Deroceras deckeni
- Deroceras demirtensis
- Deroceras dubium
- Deroceras ercinae
- Deroceras famagustensis
- Deroceras fatrenseDeroceras fatrenseDeroceras fatrense is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.This species is endemic to Slovakia....
- Deroceras gardullanum
- Deroceras gavdosensis
- Deroceras giustianum
- Deroceras glandulosum
- Deroceras golcheri
- Deroceras gorgonium
- Deroceras halieos
- Deroceras helicoidale
- Deroceras hesperiumDeroceras hesperiumDeroceras hesperium, common name the evening fieldslug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.- Distribution and conservation status :...
- Deroceras heterura
- Deroceras ikaria
- Deroceras ilium
- Deroceras johannae
- Deroceras juranumDeroceras juranumDeroceras juranum is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Taxonomy:...
- Deroceras karnaniensis
- Deroceras kasium
- Deroceras keaensis
- Deroceras kontanum
- Deroceras korthionensis
- Deroceras koschanum
- Deroceras kythirensis
- Deroceras laeveDeroceras laeveDeroceras laeve, the marsh slug, is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Distribution:...
- Deroceras lasithionensis
- Deroceras levisarcobelum
- Deroceras libanoticum
- Deroceras limacoides
- Deroceras lombricoides
- Deroceras lothari
- Deroceras maasseni
- Deroceras malkini
- Deroceras melinum
- Deroceras minoicum
- Deroceras neuteboomi
- Deroceras nigroclypeatum
- Deroceras nitidum
- Deroceras nyphoni
- Deroceras oertzeni
- Deroceras orduensis
- Deroceras osseticum
- Deroceras padisii
- Deroceras pageti
- Deroceras panormitanumDeroceras panormitanumDeroceras panormitanum, previously known as Deroceras caruanae and as Agriolimax caruanae, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae....
- Deroceras parium
- Deroceras parnasium
- Deroceras planarioides
- Deroceras ponsonbyi
- Deroceras praecoxDeroceras praecoxDeroceras praecox is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Taxonomy:...
- Deroceras pseudopanormitanum
- Deroceras rethimnonensis
- Deroceras reticulatumDeroceras reticulatumDeroceras reticulatum, common names "grey field slug" and "grey garden slug", is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae...
- Deroceras rhodensis
- Deroceras riedelianum
- Deroceras roblesi
- Deroceras rodnaeDeroceras rodnaeDeroceras rodnae is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Taxonomy:...
- Deroceras samium
- Deroceras seriphium
- Deroceras sturanyiDeroceras sturanyiDeroceras sturanyi is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Distribution:This species is not listed in IUCN red list and therefore is not evaluated...
- Deroceras subagreste
- Deroceras tarracense
- Deroceras tauricum
- Deroceras thersites
- Deroceras turcicumDeroceras turcicumDeroceras turcicum is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Distribution:...
- Deroceras uataderensis
- Deroceras vascoanaDeroceras vascoanaDeroceras vascoana is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Distribution:This land slug species is endemic to parts of France and Spain....
- Deroceras zilchi
subgenus Liolytopelte Simroth, 1901
- Deroceras bureschi
- Deroceras caucasicum
- Deroceras kandaharensis
- Deroceras moldavicum (Grossu & Lupu, 1961)
- Deroceras occidentalis
- Deroceras trabzonensis
Relevance to humans
One species in this genus, (Deroceras reticulatumDeroceras reticulatum
Deroceras reticulatum, common names "grey field slug" and "grey garden slug", is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae...
the grey field slug) is a serious pest to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
.