Exhibits a flipping defense; the long body and solid tail allows them to jump to escape predators (Pilsbry 1948).
8-60 mm long slugs (Chichester & Getz 1973).
W North America (Ovaska et al. 2002).
At least seven species are in the genus Hemphillia, a taxon whose ecology and systematics are poorly known (Ovaska et al. 2002).
Slugs in this genus are able to twitch violently if disturbed by thrashing their tails (hence common name, jumping slugs).
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External: Animal with a small, thin, partly exposed internal shell (horny plate) near posterior end of mantle hump; mantle hump conspicuously raised in a visceral pouch centrally located on body; breathing hole in posterior half of right side of mantle; solid tail; keel present; caudal mucus pore present (on tail tip); foot fringe wide; undivided sole.
Internal: Internal shell not calcareous; buccal and tentacular retractors joined behind diaphragm; penial verge present; epiphallus present; internal organs in mantle pouch, not within foot (Chichester & Getz 1973; Leonard et al. 2011; Pilsbry 1948).
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