Athoracophorus bitentaculatus

Calliostoma bitentaculatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Orthogastropoda
Superorder:	Heterobranchia
Order:	Pulmonata
Suborder:	Eupulmonata
Infraorder:	Stylommatophora
Superfamily:	Athoracophoroidea
Family:	Athoracophoridae
Genus:	Athoracophorus
Species:	A. bitentaculatus
Binomial name
Athoracophorus bitentaculatus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832)
Synonyms
Limax bitentaculatus Quoy and Gaimard, 1832 Janella antipodarum Gray, 1853 Neojanella dubia Cockerell, 1891 Janella maculata Collinge, 1894 Athoracophorus bitentaculatus rufovenosus Suter, 1909

Athoracophorus bitentaculatus is a leaf-veined slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family Athoracophoridae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand, found in all three main islands where suitable habitat exists.

Habitat

This species of leaf-veined slug is found in areas with an annual rainfall in excess of 1,270 mm.

Description

The slug's length is up to 40 mm. It has two tentacles, the longest and most substantial of any of the leaf-veined slugs. There is only a vestigial internal shell in the form of numerous small calcareous particles.

Life habits

It is nocturnal and fungivorous (eats fungus). The eggs are small round and gelatinous.

References

• Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1