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An investigation of the status of the terrestrial slugs Arion ater ater (L.) and Arion ater rufus (L.) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata) in Britain
Author(s) -
EVANS NICHOLAS J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6409.1986.tb00232.x
Subject(s) - pulmonata , biology , gastropoda , subspecies , zoology , taxon , mollusca , range (aeronautics) , variation (astronomy) , ecology , materials science , composite material , physics , astrophysics
Three types of evidence, variation in external coloration and patterning. characters of the distal genitalia and biochemical variation, were used to determine if A. a. ater and A. u. rufus could be recognized in Britain. From these studies it was possible to recognize the two taxa, but the variation of the morphological characters was continuous between them. The range of variation, in particular that of the distal genitalia of A. a. ater , was much wider than indicated by previous studies. The biochemical results from the use of zone electrophoresis and staining for non‐specific esterases indicated that there was a high level of similarity between the taxa. It was not possible to determine whether the continuity in the variation resulted from hybridization or an overlap between two separate ranges. Consequently, although the results agreed with A. ater being two subspecies, more work is needed both in Britain and on the Continent to extend these observations and to determine the status of the two taxa.