Eleutherocaulis haroldi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Systellommatophora
Family: Veronicellidae
Genus: Eleutherocaulis
Species:
E. haroldi
Binomial name
Eleutherocaulis haroldi
(Dundee, 1980)
Synonyms[2]
  • Laevicaulis haroldi (Dundee, 1980)[3]

Eleutherocaulis haroldi, known as Purcell's hunter slug[4] or the caterpillar slug,[1] is a species of tropical land slug in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.[2] It was first formally named Laevicaulis haroldi in 1980.[3]

Distribution

Eleutherocaulis haroldi is native to South Africa.[1]

Conservation status

In its home range in South Africa, Eleutherocaulis haroldi is endangered; it is threatened by habitat loss.[1]. It has been introduced accidentally in India and is becoming an invasive pest.[5][6][7] The species was first reported feeding and causing damage to Mulberry plants in Maharashtra.[8] It is speculated to have reached India through various airports and international trade.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Herbert, D.G. (2000). Laevicaulis haroldi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed 25 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Eleutherocaulis haroldi (Dundee, 1980). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1457306 on 2020-10-25
  3. 1 2 Dundee D. S. (1980). "Laevicaulis haroldi, a new veronicellid slug from Natal, South Africa (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)". The Nautilus 64(3): 118-120.
  4. Nematology in South Africa : a view from the 21st century. Cham. ISBN 9783319442105.
  5. Chemmencheri, Ramakrishnan Sreeraj. "Invasion of the exotic slug, Laevicaulis haroldi Dundee, 1980 in Sunderban Biosphere Reserve,India" (PDF). BioInvasions Records. 10 (1): 21–27.
  6. "Meet the caterpillar slug, a potential future invader to India". The Indian Express. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  7. Mahapatra, Biswa Bhusana; N.A, Aravind. "Laevicaulis haroldi (Veronicellidae: Gastropoda), a potential future invader to India" (PDF). Current Science. 120 (11): 1781–1785.
  8. Avhad, Sunil.B; Shinde, K.S; Jalba, Hiware Chandrashekhar. "Record of molluscan pests in mulberry gardens in aurangabad district of Maharashtra State, India" (PDF). Indian Journal of Sericulture. 52 (1): 29–33.
  9. "(PDF) Laevicaulis haroldi (Mollusca, Veronicellidae): a 40-year journey from Natal (South Africa) to Kolkata (India)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-08-31.


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