Ariopelta capensis (Krauss, 1848)
Rare; limited distribution in South Africa (Herbert 2010).
When perturbed, compresses body sides and falls over (Sirgel 1985).
External: Black body; appearance of slight keel between mantle and tail tip; long tubercles on skin; one-part, narrow sole; clear, watery mucus (Sirgel 1985).
Internal: Internal shell ovate, 9 x 5 mm; no pigmentation of genitals or other internal organs; penis with four sections: short basal apical section attached to vas deferens and retractor muscle and with an internal papilla, wider section and third sections containing multiple calcareous spines, and fourth, basal section long and thin; vas deferens partly converges with walls of atrium; short spermatheca duct; long vagina, upper portion of vagina in the shape of a bulb, attached to spermatheca duct; short atrium conical in shape and with thick, muscular walls (Sirgel 1985).
Externally similar to Milax gagates, with obvious external difference of a three-part sole of M. gagates and one-part sole of A. capensis (Sirgel 1985).
25 mm long contracted; to 140 mm long extended (Sirgel 1985).
Endemic to South Africa (Herbert 2010).
Neotype locality: South Africa, Cape Province, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Landdroskloof, 34 03' S, 18 59'E, altitude 1350 m (Sirgel 1985).
Restricted mountain habitats; shady, S-facing cliffside subject to regular mist and moist conditions; Cyperaceae and Restionaceae vegetation (Sirgel 1985).
Feeds on fungi and moss (Lophocolea) (Sirgel 1985).