| Veronicella sloanii | |
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| A live individual of Veronicella sloanii, head end towards the bottom of the image | |
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| Species: | V. sloanii |
| Binomial name | |
| Veronicella sloanii | |
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Veronicella sloanii, [3] [4] commonly called the pancake slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial, pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
When extended, this slug can attain a length of 12 cm (5 in.). [5] It is highly variable in coloration and positive identification depends on dissection and inspection of the genitalia. [5] It is usually very pale in color, ranging from mottle pale yellow, cream to white. [5] It may have irregular black spotting or speckling all over the dorsal surface that may coalesce into two poorly defined bands running down either side of the body; [5] in the juveniles, these two bands may be clearer and better defined as grey bands, especially anteriorly. [5] Occasionally the slug can be mostly brownish. [5] The only constant color character among different Caribbean island populations is the eye stalk, which is bluish grey with a light brown tip. [5]
The indigenous distribution of Veronicella sloanii is Jamaica. [6] The type locality is in Jamaica. [2]
Other non-indigenous distribution includes:
This slug has been introduced to Florida and it has become an agricultural pest there. [5]
Controversially Cowie et al. (2009) [7] considered this species has not yet become established in the US, but it is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA. [7]
This slug lives in moist conditions and is nocturnal.
The best times to hunt for the slug is after rainfall. [5] They rest under boards, logs and other objects lying on the ground. [5]
This species attacks a wide variety of agricultural and horticultural plants including banana, plantain, various beans and peas, peanut, eggplant, cultivars of Brassica (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), carrot, hot and sweet peppers, various citrus species, lettuce, sweet potato, dasheen, eddoe, tannia, tomato, and yam. [5]
The slug lays a clutch of about 30 eggs, which are about 5 mm in diameter. [8] The hatching time in captivity was 15 days at 24 °C. [8]
This species is an agricultural pest. [5]
They should not be handled with bare hands because they serve as intermediate hosts of the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis , which causes a disease called human abdominal angiostrongyliasis. [5] [9]
Succinea, common name the amber snails, is a large genus of small, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Succineidae.
The Veronicellidae, also known by their common name the leatherleaf slugs, are a family of pulmonate terrestrial slugs.
Veronicella cubensis, common name the Cuban slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Leidyula floridana, common name the Florida leatherleaf, is a species of tropical air-breathing land slug, shell-less terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Veronicellidae.
Vaginulus is a genus of air-breathing land slugs, shell-less terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Diplosolenodes occidentalis is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Veronicella is a genus of tropical air-breathing land slugs in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Tandonia sowerbyi is a species of air-breathing, keeled, land slug, a shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Milacidae.
Limicolaria aurora is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Achatinidae.
Thelidomus aspera is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurodontidae.
Sarasinula plebeia, commonly called the bean slug or the Caribbean leatherleaf slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Sarasinula marginata is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Ovachlamys fulgens is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicarionidae.
Veronicella tenax, common Cuban name is the steak slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.
Zachrysia provisoria is a species of air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Camaenidae or Pleurodontidae.
Zachrysia auricoma is a species of air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Zachrysiidae.
Leidyula moreleti is a species of air-breathing land slug, shell-less terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae.
Zachrysia trinitaria is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Camaenidae or Pleurodontidae.
This article incorporates public text a public domain work of the United States Government from the reference [5]
Stange L. A. (created September 2004, updated March 2006). "Snails and Slugs of Regulatory Significance to Florida". Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. accessed 27 August 2010.
