Prophysaon coeruleum, the blue-gray taildropper, is a small species of slug belonging to the genus Prophysaon, a genus known for autotomy.[2] It is native to western North America, from southwestern British Columbia to northwestern California.[3]
| Blue-gray Taildropper | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Ariolimacidae |
| Genus: | Prophysaon |
| Species: | P. coeruleum
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| Binomial name | |
| Prophysaon coeruleum Cockerell, 1890
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Description
editProphysaon coeruleum is notable for its blue-gray colour. It has been described in several colours, including blue, glue-gray, dark great, brown and black, all observed with opalescent spots.[4] It has also been observed in light gray or white.[4] The variation in colour is though to be due to differences in the pigment melanin, although the reason for the variation in these slugs is unknown.[4] It varies in length, adults ranging from 20 to 40 mm (0.79 to 1.57 in), with nearly one-third of that length being the mantle.[5] Its tail, which can be self-amputated, has grooves along the length of it and a line at the point of [[amputation.[2][6]
Distribution and dispersal
editProphysaon coeruleum can be found in western North America, from the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, at its most northern point, down towards northern California, USA.[5] It is thought to only be able to disperse tens to hundreds of meters every generation, meaning it cannot move far in its lifetime.[4] Surveys suggest that the populations in its northern range are made up of several isolated populations, although the exact reasons for this isolation are not currently known.[5]
History
editThere is genetic variation within the different species, along with evidence to suggest that it's composed of three major groups and eight subgroups.[4] This genetic variation, mostly observed in its southern range, likely occurred 2.6-5.9 million years ago due to geological events.[4] There is also evidence showing that disturbances from less than 2 million years ago, during the Pleistocene, also led to some genetic variations.[4]
Diet
editThe main components of the diet of Prophysaon coeruleum are fungal spores and hyphae.[7] They come largely from mycorrhizal fungi, which form mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationships with various vascular plants.[5][7] It has also been recorded as eating vascular plant tissues, lichens, and imperfect fungi.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Prophysaon coeruleum". Natureserve Explorer. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ a b Pilsbry, H. A. (1948). "Land Mollusca of North America (north of Mexico)". Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. II, part2 (3).
- ^ Ovaska, K.; Leonard, W. P.; Chichester, L.; Burke, T. E.; et al. (2004). "Prophysaon coeruleum Cockerell, 1890, blue-gray taildropper (Gastropoda : Arionidae): new distributional records and reproductive anatomy". Western North American Naturalist. 64 (4): 538‑543.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wilke, T.; Duncan, N. (2004). "Phylogeographical patterns in the American Pacific Northwest : Lessons from the arionid slug Prophysaon coeruleum". Molecular Ecology. 13 (8): 2303‑2315. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02234.x. PMID 15245403.
- ^ a b c d COSEWIC. (2016). COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Blue-grey Taildropper Prophysaon coeruleum in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
- ^ Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2018). Recovery Strategy for the Blue-grey Taildropper (Prophysaon coeruleum) in Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada.
- ^ a b c McGraw, R.; Duncan, N.; Cazares, E. (2002). "Fungi and Other Items Consumed by the Blue-Gray Taildropper Slug (Prophysaon coeruleum) and the Papillose Taildropper Slug (Prophysaon dubium)". The Veliger. 45 (3): 261‑264.
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