''Chlamydephorus'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial

pulmonate Pulmonata or pulmonates is an informal group (previously an order, and before that, a subclass) of snails and slugs characterized by the ability to breathe air, by virtue of having a pallial lung instead of a gill, or gills. The group inclu ...

gastropod Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...

mollusk Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The ...

s in the family

Chlamydephoridae ''Chlamydephorus'' is a genus of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Chlamydephoridae. It is the only genus within the family Chlamydephoridae.Herbert D. G. (1997). "The terrestrial slugs of KwaZul ...

. It is the only genus within the family Chlamydephoridae.Herbert D. G. (1997). "The terrestrial slugs of KwaZulu-Natal: diversity, biogeography and conservation (Mollusca: Pulmonata)". '' Annals of the Natal Museum'' 38: 197-239
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Taxonomy

The family Chlamydephoridae has no subfamilies and it is placed in the superfamily Rhytidoidea. ''Chlamydephorus'' is the type genus of the family Chlamydephoridae.

Species

Species within the genus ''Chlamydephorus'' include: * '' Chlamydephorus bruggeni'' * '' Chlamydephorus burnupi'' (Smith, 1892) - Burnup's hunter slug * '' Chlamydephorus dimidius'' (Watson, 1915) - Snake skin hunter slug * ''

Chlamydephorus gibbonsi ''Chlamydephorus'' is a genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICT ...

'' Binney, 1879 * '' Chlamydephorus purcelli'' (Collinge, 1901) - Purcell's hunter slug * '' Chlamydephorus sexangulus''

Distribution

Species of ''Chlamydephorus'' occur across southern Africa; they are most commonly found in the Natal region of South Africa.

Description

''Chlamydephorus'' slugs have an internal vestigial shell. The pallial organs are located at the posterior end of the elongated body and embedded under the dorsal integument. The elongation of the buccal mass varies greatly among the different species of the family and this is reflected in the size of the radula and the number of teeth. In all species the jaw is absent. The largest individuals of these slugs can be up to 120 mm in length.

Ecology

These slugs are believed to be mostly subterranean dwellers. Gut analysis of one species found both plant and animal matter, indicating that they are facultative predators who will also eat vegetation. They have been recorded as eating pill millipedes of the genus '' Sphaerotherium'',Herbert D. G. (2000). "Dining on diplopods: remarkable feeding behaviour in chlamydephorid slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda)". '' Journal of Zoology'' 251(1): 1–5. . snails, other arthropods and soft-bodied invertebrates such as earthworms. The prey is subdued by injecting a toxin into its flesh.

Taxonomy

Species

Distribution

Description

Ecology

References

Further reading