Staala gwaii, the Haida Gwaii slug, is a species of slug in the family Arionidae. It is the only species in the genus Staala. [2]

Staala

Special Concern (COSEWIC)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Arionidae
Genus: Staala
Ovaska, Chichester and Sopuck, 2010
Species:
S. gwaii
Binomial name
Staala gwaii
Ovaska, Chichester and Sopuck, 2010

Distribution

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Scientists catalogued the Haida Gwaii slug in 2003 in Haida Gwaii. It was thereafter noted on Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. These areas were both refugia or nearby refugia during the Late Glacial Maximum. Therefore they harbour several Ice Age relicts, of which Staala gwaii is just one. This camelback slug is a poor disperser, and has not expanded beyond its range.

Description

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The slug grows to 1-2 cm long. Its distinctive mantle features a pronounced hump, and small, black-tipped projections or papillae cover its entire body. It is jet black to grey or tan in colour.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ovaska, Kristiina. "Haida Gwaii slug (Staala gwaii)". Government of Canada. COSEWIC. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  2. ^ MolluscaBase (2019). MolluscaBase. Staala gwaii Ovaska, Chichester & Sopuck, 2010. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1351666 on 2019-12-05