Description: A medium to large keeled slug, pale brownish-grey to dark grey speckled with black. Respiratory pore rimmed pale orange. Keel yellow or orange. Sole pale, mucus yellowish and very sticky. Forms a half-moon shape when disturbed. Widespread. 60-75 mm.

World Distribution: Mostly found in the western Mediterranean and along coasts north to the British Isles. Distribution type: Mediterranean-Atlantic (91).

Irish Distribution: Widespread in synanthropic situations but most common in southern counties.

Ecology:

• Generally restricted to disturbed places in woods and gardens
• Established occasionally in semi-natural woodland

Key Identification Features:

• A medium to large keeled slug with yellowish or orange mucus
• Usually mid to dark grey in colour speckled with black and with a contrasting yellow or orange keel
• Breathing pore rimmed orange
• Contracts into a compact, half-moon profile when irritated
• Mucus yellow to orange and very sticky
• Mantle granular with a deep horseshoe-shaped groove

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

Distribution Map from NBN: Tandonia sowerbyi at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Tandonia sowerbyi at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Tandonia sowerbyi | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Milacidae, Tandonia

Thumbnails for genus Tandonia