Arion intermedius

Arion intermedius is a species of land slug in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs. It is known commonly as the hedgehog slug,[2][3] hedgehog arion, or glade slug.[4] It is native to Western Europe, and it is known as an introduced species in many other regions, including North America, Australia, New Zealand, North Africa, South Africa, and the Pacific Islands.[4]

Arion intermedius

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily:
Arionoidea
Family:
Arionidae
Genus:
Arion
Species:
A. intermedius
Binomial name
Arion intermedius
(Normand, 1852)
Synonyms

Arion alpinus Pollonera, 1887[1]

Description

This slug is 1.5 to 2 centimeters long. It is variable in color and patterning, being white, orange, or gray, with or without banding, and it has gray tentacles and a yellow or orange sole. It becomes compact and "nearly bell-shaped" when contracted.[3] The tubercles that texture the dorsal surface of its body taper to sharp, prickle-like points, inspiring the common name hedgehog slug.[3]

Biology

This species occurs in natural habitat such as grasslands and forests, and on cultivated or otherwise human-altered land, such as pastures, orchards, and hedges.[4] It feeds on plants and fungi.[5]

For a long time, this hermaphroditic slug was thought to reproduce only by self-fertilization; solitary captive specimens produced offspring and the species had never been observed mating. Genetic analysis provided evidence of crossing and the species is now believed to have a mixed breeding system, with an individual having the ability to fertilize itself or cross-fertilize, exchanging sperm with a mate.[6]

In the wild it has one generation per year (univoltine), with all individuals maturing rather synchronously in autumn.[7] Adults die over winter or early spring.[8][7]

As a pest

This is not considered to be a severe pest, but some reports of such problems have been made.[5] While most exotic slugs and snails are often found in altered environments, this species has a greater tendency to invade natural habitat, such as forests. Its ability to self-fertilize allows a single individual to enter new habitat and then reproduce.[9] It is also known as a pest of clover-seeded pastures in New Zealand.[10]

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References
  1. Manganelli G., et al. (2010). The status of Arion alpinus Pollonera 1887, and re-description of Arion obesoductus Reischütz 1973 (Gastropoda, Arionidae). Journal of Conchology 40, 269-76.
  2. Arion intermedius Normand. CSIRO & Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. 2004.
  3. Arion (Kobeltia) intermedius Normand, 1852 (hedgehog slug). MolluscIreland. National Museums Northern Ireland, 2010.
  4. Arion intermedius. NatureServe. 2013.
  5. Slugs: A Guide to the Invasive and Native Fauna of California. Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. University of California. 2009.
  6. Jordaens, K.; Van Houte, N.; Helsen, P.; Breugelmans, K.; Jaksons, P.; Backeljau, t. (2013). "Mixed breeding system in the hermaphroditic land slug Arion intermedius (Stylommatophora, Arionidae)". Hereditas. 150 (4–6): 45–52. doi:10.1111/j.1601-5223.2013.02272.x.
  7. Hutchinson, J.M.C.; Reise, H.; Skujienė, G. (2017). "Life cycles and adult sizes of five co-occurring species of Arion slugs". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 83: 88–105. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyw042.
  8. Bohan, D.A.; Glen, D.M.; Wiltshire, C.W.; Hughes, L. (2000). "Parametric intensity and the spatial arrangement of the terrestrial mollusc herbivores Deroceras reticulatum and Arion intermedius". Journal of Animal Ecology. 69 (6): 1031–1046. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2000.00459.x.
  9. Cádiz, F. J. and C. S. Gallardo. (2007). Arion intermedius (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora); first record of this introduced slug in Chile, with notes on its anatomy and natural history. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80(1), 99-108.
  10. Barker, G. M. (1989). Slug problems in New Zealand pastoral agriculture. Monograph-British Crop Protection Council (41), 59-68.
  • Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219 in Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.
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