spotted scientific rare species medium sized large air breathing land terrestrial family adult generally measures length dark grey brownish colour yellowish spots internal anatomy shows unusual features characteristic differences genus type genus family described late compared relatively large land form fauna british isles indication rarity secretive habits distribution species include wild habitats southwestern ireland species widespread north west spain central northern portugal found ireland spain species appears require environments high humidity acidic soil soil calcium nocturnal ireland active overcast days feeds fungi grow tree rare species officially protected conservation laws countries occurs survival nonetheless threatened lives completely wild habitat particular type acidic woodlands support species lower plants relies food habitat type risk number different factors ranging climate change construction roads attempts establish breeding populations captivity help ensure survival species limited success taxonomy including live live freshwater live land land air clade means primitive eyes eye spots carried tips upper despite superficial similarities land family round backed keel contrast land family shares numerous internal features species genera family including typical family scientific genus literally means earth specific means spotted latin word spot english language vernacular common derived county southwest ireland species collected type locality mentioned original description scientific species written genus contains nominate subgenus subgenus second subgenus subgenus contains species subgenus includes species species originally described named specimens collected ireland irish naturalist named sent material found lake county irish naturalist introduced science new species included molecular phylogenetic studies description body length adult species difficult measure accurately unusual response section entitled behaviour official measurements species vary example range measurements species body fixed preserved adult specimen long mantle length body glossy covered left right sides longitudinal rows small outlines like usually dark grey colour indistinct darker bands body bands band summit band body bands present usually extend length body numerous somewhat oval yellowish spots yellow spots distributed longitudinal zones animal head shield shield shaped outer surface mantle length body actively crawling extended half contracted shield rounded pointed texture surface area resembles underside leather spotted pale buff whitish spots similar body uniformly distributed foot fringe band tissue edge foot distinctly separated pale somewhat expanded indistinct lines sole underside foot pale grayish yellow colour divided indistinct bands mid area somewhat darker transparent bands caudal pit situated foot body upper surface tip tail pit collects extra conspicuous triangular shape opens pit carries transparent yellowish ball upper black grey short thick oval ends usual eye spots tips opening lies right eye lower pale translucent grey skin usually pale yellow varies degree crawling usually yellowish having mixed body internal anatomy shell land mantle remnants evolutionary past larger external shell remnant takes form small internal shell thin plate collection species internal shell shell plate resembles found land genus words shell plate species oval shape solid transparent base shell plate usually somewhat convex concave beneath indistinct concentric lines growth covered thin transparent protein layer nucleus oldest growth situated near young shell thin convex abruptly cut extremely thin layer projects contains minute shell plate drawn differently authors solid plate organ systems system closely related heart surrounded triangular kidney kidney layered structure species heart directed close anal respiratory openings heart away species related genus type genus family foot deeply tissues reaches far head known organ developed shows pair strong flattened digestive found species kidney like structure mantle chamber distinct species muscles muscles muscles pulling head species right left muscles pull divide early upper lower muscles muscles upper eye spots right left muscles pull attached base edge mantle right left respectively throat muscle usual split attachment mouth root muscle fixed right body right muscle attached reproductive system reproductive system feature genus special feature elongated genus reduced lost muscle secondary structure muscle acts organ instead end muscle extends posterior end body proposed morphological equivalent analogy longer shorter authors depicted reproductive system taylor quick consider previous authors depiction accurate authors depicted short reproductive organs follows small compact combination male female long greatly convoluted ends small spherical seminal creates eggs elongated shaped like tongue carries eggs sperm twisted free carries eggs long thin carries sperm long twisted rolled form bundle storing sperm short stem distant elaborate system opens outside world distant opening remarkable common area usually inside area male female systems open long muscle stem fixed internally median line body near caudal end tail end body open nearly far prolonged form drawn length enormous extent thin free egg carrying opens nearer near end muscular greatly irregularly enlarged connected number muscular female organ receives organ curious series flattened central pointed end situated close pointed end possibly reduced version organ makes love similar structure shared ancestry love apparatus feeding feeding structure found typically small strong ribbon like structure numerous complex rows tiny teeth situated inside mouth species long wide slightly curved transverse rows denticles tiny teeth row teeth composed median tooth lateral marginal teeth median teeth small clearly having slightly lateral teeth having middle teeth noticeably larger median row extra middle tooth developed distinction lateral marginal series extra little present teeth position slightly size succeeding teeth twentieth row marginal series gradually grows size importance margin approached diminished teeth showing like embryo character jaw jaw measures distinctly arched rear crescent moon shaped shape wide broad slightly rounded ends jaw solid dark brown broad flat ribs middle jaw ribs absent scarcely areas ribs meet upper edge form effect produce effect lower edge jaw individuals ribs extend way jaw making upper cutting edges jaw clearly noticeably toothed outline canal digestive system forms loops true species family distribution known distribution words occurs locations found southwestern ireland north west spain central portugal northern portugal presence southwest ireland similar distribution patterns observed species animals plants particular distribution ireland intermediate known speculation introduced ireland prehistoric humans appears happened case support genetic diversity ireland found greatly reduced compared populations ireland ireland species known areas sandstone geology total area km2 previously unknown population recorded county protected sites significant proportion range ireland protected included special areas conservation ireland response european environmental legislation concerning discussed greater detail section total seven special areas conservation designated selection feature woodland mountains sheep river addition designated relation selection criteria expanded protect small area woodland inhabited species recorded selection feature example spain portugal despite discovery lake english common ireland centre species distribution instead distribution centred continental known northern spain northern portugal reported occurring france confirmed record considered suspect portugal southernmost locality species found mountain range portugal portuguese include provinces alto protected area spain distribution species spain includes coastal locations extends far east question fall boundaries autonomous communities provinces provinces unconfirmed findings reported protected sites sites species spain include listed grouped region river upper valleys alto site community importance special protection area natural park sites site community importance special protection area river wood areas northern river included sites estuary forms boundary province river canyon areas river estuary river river system region district divided sierra los mountain range forms boundary autonomous communities gives site province sierra relevant sites protected birds directive protected mountain range divided autonomous communities sites listed include protected areas national park regional park called behaviour species primarily nocturnal words usually active night daylight hours usually hidden rocks loose bark trees juvenile species active twilight adults active night especially rainy humid nights ireland north temperatures considerably cooler rain air damp ireland active daytime long weather humid overcast defensive behavior unusual attacked land simply head contract body stay firmly attached substrate contrast threatened head lets substrate rolls completely stays contracted ball like shape unique feature ireland ecology habitat lives wild habitats agricultural pest unlike family ireland inhabits wild woodland oak trees open long covered habitats spain usually occurs granite mountains usually prefers acidic soil high humidity environments living moss covered rocks trees mainly chestnut species oak fallen wood bark rotten wood occur open areas near water bodies feeding food includes fungi bacteria grow tree captivity species fed bread leaves vegetables captivity documented life cycle mating species head head position openings facing shaped funnel edges mating sperm transferred eggs laid july october wild february october captivity self possible species eggs laid clusters held film egg masses overall size eggs large compared size animal vary certain limits largest eggs smallest eggs regularly oval white fresh larger ones somewhat transparent area smaller end color changes light direction like lost days eggs turn yellowish later brown black young appear hatch weeks period spots body animal barely present lateral bands distinct black conspicuous mature species juveniles shield shows shaped markings case genus shaped markings indistinct grow larger probably pass winter sexually immature stage body preserved juvenile specimens long mantle length juveniles reach maturity years length life span wild seven years lifespan captivity rarely years numerous different spain consistently found case individuals species observed time known natural enemies predators include larvae fly threats survival species threat species probably modification habitat reduces moss food sources lead local disappearance species documented spain threats include intensification land use land sheep removing shrubs building gardens burning building roads highways tourism general development pressure coniferous forest plantations spread invasive species plants habitat potential dangers species include climate change air pollution negatively affect food source climate change probably affect populations seriously climate hot dry relative ireland generally cool damp conservation measures international protection perceived rarity restricted distribution protected convention conservation european wildlife natural habitats convention decision backed studies distribution ecology ireland concluded evidence decline plus uncertainty status ireland tended support inclusion convention considered concern species iucn red list rated vulnerable protected european_union response listed species principal mechanisms directive protect habitats species creation special areas conservation protection species independently habitats means probably areas specifically protected threats greatest seven designated species ireland spain habitats directive protects outside article european_union member states establish system strict protection listed species prohibit deliberate capture killing prohibit deliberate disturbance particularly period breeding migration prohibit deliberate destruction taking eggs wild prohibit deliberate non deliberate deterioration destruction breeding sites resting places protection conservation status reports portugal spain available august conservation status spain iucn criteria vulnerable protection ireland noted irish sites occurred protected south concluded species adequately sites supported inclusion list irish government irish law natural habitats regulations principal legislation upgraded protection habitat designation special areas conservation listed distribution section adapting existing legislation protected irish wildlife act added list protected species protected treatment cited media example hyper wildlife act protect authorised indirect damage direct damage collecting published species action plan january efforts protect indirect damage arising example commercial forestry following legal challenge ireland implementation action plan superseded threat response plan threat response plan addressed issues arose held ireland protecting species directive required monitoring report covering conservation status species ireland declared favourable evaluated criteria range population habitat future prospects validity assessment question ruling discussed held ireland monitoring properly need improve monitoring discussed response plan recognised population statistics particularly outside threat response plan noted species monitoring process distribution status subject evaluated systematically time definition monitoring undertaken ireland order matters forward survey ireland collaboration researched suitable monitoring protocol species survey investigations resulted publication guide population dynamics guide published captive breeding species successfully bred captivity british conservation organisation operates captive breeding programme endangered species breeding unit project located species normal range england martin mere wetland centre 1990s breeding programme given number different individuals order set breeding programmes unfortunately breeding groups survived
Kerry slug