Geomalacus

Geomalacus is a genus of large air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs.

Geomalacus
drawing of Geomalacus maculosus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Stylommatophora
Family:	Arionidae
Genus:	Geomalacus Allman, 1843[1]
Subgenera and species
Geomalacus Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 - Kerry slug Arrudia Pollonera, 1890[2] Geomalacus anguiformis (Morelet, 1845) Geomalacus malagensis Wiktor & Norris, 1991 Geomalacus oliveirae Simroth, 1891

Etymology

The Ancient Greek word geo (γη) means the Earth. The Greek word malacus (μαλαχὀς) means mollusc.

Distribution

Western Europe

Species

This genus contains the following species:^[3][4]

subgenus Geomalacus

• Geomalacus maculosus Allman, 1843 - Kerry slug

subgenus Arrudia Pollonera, 1890^[5]

• Geomalacus anguiformis (Morelet, 1845)
• Geomalacus malagensis Wiktor & Norris, 1991

  known by some as Geomalacus moreleti (Hesse, 1884)^[6]

• Geomalacus oliveirae Simroth, 1891

Description

Animal limaciform, subcylindrical, blunt behind, with a but little developed mucous pore; mantle anterior, close to the head, concealing a shell-plate; a distinct locomotive disk; respiratory orifice on the right anterior margin of the mantle; genital orifice behind and below the right eye-peduncle. Shell-plate calcareous, ovate, small and solid. Jaw costulated; lingual dentition as in Arion.^[7]

The main diagnostic feature of the reproductive system differing from genera Arion, Letourneuxia and Ariunculus is, that species in the genus Geomalacus has atrium with diverticulum.^[8] The free oviduct is short; the retractor muscle is attached to the spermatheca duct; vas deferens and epiphalus are long.^[8]