Scientific name Veronicellidae Rank Family | ||
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Lower classifications | ||
Land slugs laevicaulis alte veronicellidae
The Veronicellidae, also known by their common name the leatherleaf slugs, are a family of pulmonate terrestrial slugs.
Contents
- Land slugs laevicaulis alte veronicellidae
- Veronicellidae ei mit embyro
- Description
- Distribution
- Life cycle
- Genera
- References
The herbivorous molluscs occur mainly in the tropical and subtropical areas of America, Asia and Africa.
They act as intermediate hosts of the rat lung worm Angiostrongylus costaricensis, and act as a vector for other human diseases. They also cause significant damage to crops.
Veronicellidae ei mit embyro
Description
The dorsal surface of these slugs is entirely covered by the mantle or hyponota. These mollusks have a posterior located anus, eyes on contractile (not retractile) tentacles, and no lung or pulmonary organ. In these aspects they are anatomically distinct from most other types of terrestrial slugs, which typically belong to the order Stylommatophora, and which have a forward located anus, and retractile tentacles.
The closely related members of the family Onchidiidae differ from the Veronicellidae by having a pulmonary sac, or lung.
Distribution
Members of the family can be found in the Central African Republic, Kenya, the Cameroon, tropical West Africa Mexico, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thailand, southern Asia, southern China, Taiwan, Cuba, the Highland Rainforests of Puerto Rico, Florida, Dominica, Hawaii, the islands of the Indian Ocean, Australia, Samoa and Guyana.
Life cycle
Some species of veronicellid bear live young.
Genera
This family has no subfamilies (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
Genera within the family Veronicellidae include:
