Tandonia nigra
Encyclopedia
Tandonia nigra is a species
of air-breathing land slug
, a terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Milacidae
.
and Baraghetto peaks, east and west slopes, between Lake Como
and Lugano lake.
Ithe type locality is the peak of Monte Generoso
with mentioned altitude 1695 m above sea level.
It is known only from mountains peaks and east and west exposed slopes, at 1500-1700 m. It is endemic species with small range. The Swiss habitats are threatened by mass tourism
and it is Critically endangered in Switzerland.
cream with very dense black spots. Tentacles are white with black dots, when contracted black. The neck and anterior sides are dirty cream. The sole is dirty cream.
The body length of preserved specimen is up to 35 mm. The width of the body of preserved specimen is up to 7 mm.
Reproductive system
: Penis is subdivided in two sections, epiphallus is shorter and slightly widening at its posterior end, vas deferens is opening slightly asymmetrically, oviductus is thin, spermatheca is elongate with a short duct, vagina is almost as long as penis, with various accessory glands like short bundles surrounding the section between oviduct and vagina, atrium is tubular, like prolongation of penis.
Copulation occur obviously in July. Adults, semiadults and juveniles were observed simultaneously from May to October. The life cycle must at least cover 2 years.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of 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...
, a 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 mollusk in the family Milacidae
Milacidae
Milacidae is a family of air-breathing, keeled, land slugs. These are shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Parmacelloidea.This family has no subfamilies ....
.
Distribution
This slug species is endemic to north Italy and south Switzerland: Monte GenerosoMonte Generoso
The Monte Generoso is a mountain in Switzerland, located in the Lepontine Alps,between Lake Lugano and Lake Como. The western and southern flanks of the mountain lie in the Swiss canton of Ticino, whilst the north-eastern flanks are in the Italian region of Lombardy...
and Baraghetto peaks, east and west slopes, between Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
and Lugano lake.
Ithe type locality is the peak of Monte Generoso
Monte Generoso
The Monte Generoso is a mountain in Switzerland, located in the Lepontine Alps,between Lake Lugano and Lake Como. The western and southern flanks of the mountain lie in the Swiss canton of Ticino, whilst the north-eastern flanks are in the Italian region of Lombardy...
with mentioned altitude 1695 m above sea level.
It is known only from mountains peaks and east and west exposed slopes, at 1500-1700 m. It is endemic species with small range. The Swiss habitats are threatened by mass tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and it is Critically endangered in Switzerland.
Description
The slug is black. It has mantleMantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
cream with very dense black spots. Tentacles are white with black dots, when contracted black. The neck and anterior sides are dirty cream. The sole is dirty cream.
The body length of preserved specimen is up to 35 mm. The width of the body of preserved specimen is up to 7 mm.
Reproductive system
Reproductive system of gastropods
The reproductive system of gastropods varies greatly from one group to another within this very large and diverse taxonomic class of animals...
: Penis is subdivided in two sections, epiphallus is shorter and slightly widening at its posterior end, vas deferens is opening slightly asymmetrically, oviductus is thin, spermatheca is elongate with a short duct, vagina is almost as long as penis, with various accessory glands like short bundles surrounding the section between oviduct and vagina, atrium is tubular, like prolongation of penis.
Ecology
It seems to be active at night. It is presumably herbivorous.Copulation occur obviously in July. Adults, semiadults and juveniles were observed simultaneously from May to October. The life cycle must at least cover 2 years.
