Agriolimacidae H. Wagner, 1935
Agriolimacidae are the widest-ranging, most speciose family of slugs (~120 species) (Wiktor 2000). Their center of diversity is in the region of the Balkans, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus (Wiktor 1996).
External: Small to medium slugs; body color plain or spotted; mantle length is >1/3 dorsum length and on anterior half of body (except for Megalopelte); posterior edge of mantle rounded; pneumostome post-medial or almost medial on mantle; fingerprint pattern of skin grooves, with center on right side of body; short keel on the end of the tail; abrupt slope/point of tail tip; sole 3-part with transverse wrinkles forming chevrons (V shapes) in the central section (Schileyko 2003; Wiktor 1996); spindle-shaped, relatively stout body; pneumostome surrounded by a lip, usually pale; clear, often watery mucus that may become milky when the animal is perturbed (Wiktor 2000)
Internal: Internal shell usually asymmetric, flat; 2 loop alimentary canal; short, sac-shaped penis often with gland, internal stimulator, and appendices; one penial retractor muscle; no accessory structures on female genitalia; spermatheca rounded with short duct, usually connecting to penis; no spermatophore (Schileyko 2003; Wiktor 1996, 2000).
Species are distinguished on the basis of: color of pneumostome border, rectal (intestinal) caecum presence, complexity of penial appendix/flagellum, body size, color of mucus when perturbed.
Eggs: soft, translucent (Wiktor 2000).
Usually <40 mm long (Schileyko 2003; Wiktor 1996); on average 30-35 mm long extended (Wiktor 2000).
This speciose family of slugs occurs throughout much of the northern hemisphere. The center of diversity is in the region of the Balkans, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus Mountains (Wiktor 1996).
Usually herbivorous with omnivorous tendencies (Wiktor 2000). Often agricultural pests.
Found on soil, herbaceous plants, and rocks; take shelter under soil clods, stones, and wood (Wiktor 2000).