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Black-spotted semi-slug

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Fastosarion aquila

Description

black spotted semi-slug

The black spotted semi-slug is a browny-orange colour with distinctive black spotting on tissue surrounding its shell. It has an ear-shaped, yellowy-brown shell with fine, spiral grooves. Despite having a shell like other gastropods such as snails, the shell is too small for the semi-slug to completely retract into. They grow to about 40mm with a shell diameter between 14-17mm.

They are common in undisturbed rainforest patches between Mullumbimby in New South Wales to Kenilworth in Queensland, but most common at Tamborine Mountain and Lamington National Park.

Adaptations

  • Hermaphrodite: each individual has both male and female reproductive organs, but they still have to find a mate to breed
  • Two pairs of tentacles on their head: the large pair contain the eyes, the smaller pair are feelers

Feeding relationships

  • What I eat: mainly nocturnal herbivores that feed on live or decaying plants
  • What eats me: birds and lizards

Interesting facts

As they are hermaphroditic, both individuals are capable of laying eggs after mating.

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Last reviewed 11 May 2020
Last updated 11 May 2020