Description: The least rare shelled slug in Ireland. Ground colour yellow to whitish, flecked dark brown over most of the upper surface, a colour which fades rapidly in alcohol. Foot fringe and sole deep yellow to orange. Shell small and nearly triangular with the upper end of columella sharply truncate, 6-7 mm. long. Widespread in southern counties. 50-70 mm.

World Distribution: Very similar to that of T. haliotidea. Distribution type: Mediterranean-Atlantic (91).

Irish Distribution: Scattered but less rare than other species. Not uncommon in Mid Cork and around Cork City in broadleaf woods or on waste ground and in gardens.

Ecology:

• An earthworm predator living in deep, friable loams where it hunts its prey
• Prefers warm soils over limestone
• Usually in sheltered woodland margins or in gardens

Key Identification Features:

• A moderate-sized yellowish slug, spotted darker, and with a small shell perched near the tail
• Foot fringe and sole yellow to orange
• Shell small and with the upper end sharply truncate, 6-7 mm. long
• Generally much smaller than either of the other two Testacella in Ireland

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

Distribution Map from NBN: Testacella sp. tenuipenis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Testacella sp. tenuipenis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Testacellidae, Testacella

Thumbnails for genus Testacella