Prophysaon andersoni

Prophysaon andersoni, common name the reticulate taildropper, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs.

Prophysaon andersoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Superorder: Eupulmonata
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Arionidae
Genus: Prophysaon
Species:
P. andersoni
Binomial name
Prophysaon andersoni
(J.G. Cooper, 1872)

These slugs are notable for being able to self-amputate (autotomy) a portion of their tail.[1][2]

Description

Adults of this slug species are about 50 mm when active, but can exceed 60 mm in length. The color of the body is a grayish or reddish brown, or can be yellowish. The dorsum is furrowed with a reticulated pattern like a mesh of diamond shapes. The mantle of the slug has two dark lateral bands. The mucus is yellow or orange.[3]

Distribution

This species of slug occurs in North America, including California, Oregon and part of Montana.

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References
  1. Rory J. Mc Donnel, Timothy D. Paine & Michael J. Gormally. 2009. Slugs: A Guide to the Invasive and Native Fauna of California Archived 2011-07-04 at the Wayback Machine. 21 pp., ISBN 978-1-60107-564-2. page 9
  2. Hand, C., and W.M. Ingram. 1950. Natural history observations on Prophysaon andersoni (J.G. Cooper) with special reference to amputation. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 49: 15-28.
  3. mtgov, Montana's Official State Website, Montana Field Guides, Reticulate Taildropper - Prophysaon andersoni,
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