the kerry slug or kerry spotted slug , scientific name geomalacus maculosus , is a rare species of medium-sized to large air-breathing land slug .

an adult kerry slug generally measures 7 – 8 cm ( 2.8 – 3.2 in ) in length and is dark grey or brownish in colour , with yellowish spots .

the internal anatomy of the slug shows some unusual features , and some characteristic differences from the genus arion , which is the type genus of the family arionidae .

the kerry slug was described in 1843 , rather late compared to many other relatively large land gastropods that form a part of the fauna of the british isles ; this is one indication of this slug 's rarity and its secretive habits .

although the distribution of this slug species does include some wild habitats in southwestern ireland ( e.g. in county kerry ) , the species is more widespread in north-west spain and from central to northern portugal .

however , it is not found anywhere between ireland and spain .

the species appears to require environments that have high humidity and acidic soil ( soil with no calcium carbonate in it ) .

the slug is mostly nocturnal or crepuscular , although in ireland it is active on overcast days .

it feeds on lichens , liverworts , mosses and fungi , which grow either on boulders or on tree trunks .

this rare species is officially protected by conservation laws in each of the three countries in which it occurs .

however , the survival of the kerry slug is nonetheless threatened because it lives only in completely wild , unspoiled habitat of a particular type : acidic woodlands and moorlands that support the species of lower plants on which the slug relies for food .

this habitat type is itself at risk from a number of different factors , ranging from climate change to the construction of roads .

attempts have been made to establish breeding populations in captivity , to help ensure the survival of this slug species , but with only limited success .

kerry slug

the kerry slug is found in spain , portugal , west cork and kerry . a new survey , run from
species of the week kerry slug . . . - irish wildlife trust | facebook
offspring of three species of arionid slug , resulting in a loss of ‘species - specific’ colour characteristics . the kerry spotted slug
kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus allman , 1843 ) recorded at lettercraffroe , co . galway
that is the explanation accepted by academics who studied the genetics of the kerry slug .
species of the week kerry slug - . . . - irish wildlife trust | facebook
however , the kerry slug’s habitat can be endangered by “invasive” plants such as rhododendrons .
platts ea , speight mcd ( 1988 ) . the taxonomy and distribution of the kerry slug
freshwater white - clawed crayfish , the freshwater pearl mussel and the kerry slug are protected under the act .
i am currently investigating the influence of habitat and diet on the gut microbiome of the slug with the aim of distinguishing kerry slug populations through microbial signatures .
the kerry slug is not one of our most glamorous species . but biodiversity is not just about glamorous species .
lovely diversity of kerry slug phenotypes . juvenile above shows an intermediate stage between brown and black adult colour morphs . urltoken
the kerry slug or kerry spotted slug , scientific name geomalacus maculosus , is a rare species of medium - sized to large air - breathing land slug . it is a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family arionidae , the roundback slugs . an adult kerry slug generally measures 7–8 cm ( 2 . 8–3 . 2 in ) in length and is dark grey or brownish in colour , with yellowish spots .
unlike many other slug species , the kerry slug is not a pest species and is associated with wild habitats away from the influence of man , according to the npws .
if slugs are your thing , then the kerry slug should be looked out for in wet weather . apparently it is the only slug that can roll into a ball .
measures to protect the habitats of the otter and the kerry slug have been announced by minister for the environment john gormley .
the rare kerry slug - found only in ireland & spain - is a protected species . | snails and slugs | pinterest
the national biodiversitydata centre is trying to improve our knowledge on the distribution of the kerry slug in ireland . should you observe this species , please submit sightings to add to the database . detailed observations will assist us gaining a betterinsight into where the kerry slug
anon , ( 2010 ) threat response plan , kerry slug , geomalacus maculosus . department of environment , heritage and local government .
( kerry slug ) : what are the factors affecting catch returns in open and forested habitats ? ecol res . 2016 ; doi :
drawing of the jaw of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus . the jaw of this species measures about 1 mm and has broad ribs .
the kerry slug displays a not very common response to disturbance in that it will detach from the substrate and roll into a ball .
the kerry slug is a rare slug that was first discovered in county kerry , ireland back in 1842 . since then they have also been found in parts of northern spain and portugal . they are medium sized slugs that are easy to identify by their spotted pattern .
kerry slugs are found only in wild habitats in both woodlands and heath lands .
for marine slugs , see sea slug . for snails , see snail . for other uses , see slug ( disambiguation ) .
researcher , rory mcdonnell recently visited the múscraí gaeltacht village to search for the kerry slug as part of his research for the npws ( national parks and wildlife service ) to establish the distribution of the kerry slug in the south west . he visited cascade wood and st gobnait ' s wood in baile bhúirne and has spent time on beara including glengarriff where the slug has been found in the past and a variety of location in south kerry .
one wrote : “you look bloody amazing kerry , love . keep it going . ”
and the scheduled bypass for macroom had ar be forgotten about because of the kerry slugs .
i meant before it was flooded . although a bit of an indirect route to kerry .
the forest service , department of agriculture , food and the marine , has published the forestry and otter guidelines and the forestry and kerry slug guidelines on this site .
aidan o ' hanlon on twitter :
lovely diversity of kerry slug phenotypes . juvenile above shows an intermediate stage between brown and black adult colour morphs . … urltoken
re : working on okenia zoobotryon from : dr kerry b . clark , may 18 , 1998
’the origin of the irish geomalacus maculosus - is the “kerry slug” really a “kerryman” ? ’ oral presentation at the molluscan forum 2013 , natural history museum , london , england .
’kerry slug - recent research findings’ oral presentation at ’the state of insect conservation in ireland’ meeting 2013 , national botanic gardens , glasnevin , dublin , ireland ( invited speaker ) .
' the kerry slug : how should we manage a protected species in commercial conifer plantations ? ’ oral presentation at environ 2013 , national university of ireland , galway , ireland .
the irish yellow slug ( limacus maculatus ) is quite different from the kerry slug ( geomalacus malaculosus ) , albeit for its rather similar name . the first is a keel back slug from the limacidae family , recognizable by the keel at the end of its foot . also its respiratory hole is located in the rear half of its mantle shield . the kerry slug , on the other hand , is a round back slug of the arionidae family without a keel and with the respiratory hole in the front half of the mantle shield . both have in common their spotted exterior and their greenish colour , fitting the island they come from . but most likely on the british isles , the irish yellow slug might be confounded with the yellow slug ( limacus flavus ) .
the part of a slug behind the mantle is called the ' tail ' .
the bottom side of a slug , which is flat , is called the ' foot ' . like almost all gastropods , a slug moves by rhythmic waves of
) a portion of their tail to help the slug escape from a predator .
that ' s a 3d printed shell around a sea - slug mouth muscle .
background information on the kerry slug the kerry slug ( scientific name : geomalacus maculosus ) was first discovered beside caragh lake in co . kerry in 1842 . it is an easily recognizable , spotted , medium sized slug ( up to 9cm in length ) which is unlikely to be confused with any other species . specimens can be brown with yellow spots ( see photo ) or black with white spots ( see photo ) . unlike many other slug species , the kerry slug is not regarded as a pest and is associated with wild habitats away from humans . in ireland this invertebrate ( no backbone ) is protected under the wildlife act 1976 and under the eu habitats directive ( as an annex ii and annex iv species ) . in addition , seven special areas of conservation have been designated for the protection of the species .
the kerry slug ( geomalachus maculosus ) is found only in kerry and nw iberia . along with 15 plant types that occur in ireland and not in brittan the question of a land bridge between iberia and ireland after the 500 year cold snap which happened around 13000 years ago must be asked .
this highway would have seen traffic in the form of not only the kerry slug but humans too who gradually inched north from the south . so the first irish people would have first set up camp of the coast of what is now cork / kerry on now submerged land known as doggerland .
among the six species of snail specifically protected by eu legislation , only one is considered safe in ireland . the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) which is “restricted to sandstone areas of kerry and west cork” , has “a strong viable population and may be capable of expanding its range with global warming” .
. in contrast to the general behavioral pattern , the kerry slug retracts its head , lets go of the substrate , rolls up completely , and stays contracted in a ball - like shape .
mcdonnell rj , gormally mj . a live trapping method for the protected european slug ,
• it’s the name of an environmental musical group , the banana slug string band .
thanks kerry , look forward to seeing your site on west atlantic opisthobranchs finished . . . . bill rudman .
it is an easily recognisable , spotted , medium - sized slug , up to nine centimetres in length , and is unlikely to be confused with any other species . it can be coloured brown with yellow spots , or black with white spots . unlike many other slug species , the kerry slug is not regarded as a pest and is associated with wild habitats away from humans .
’the impact of forestry management practices on the distribution of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus allman and the investigation of other possible factors limiting its occurrence’ poster presentation at environ 2012 , university college dublin , ireland .
a terrestrial slug between 6cms and 9 cms in length . it occurs in two colour varietys
the little - known kerry slug , which hit the headlines two years ago after getting in the way of a proposed bypass road in ballyvourney , co cork , is about to get back in the news .
reich , i . , o’meara , k . , mc donnell , r . j . and gormally , m . j . ( 2012 ) an assessment of the use of conifer plantations by the kerry slug (
is documented , but varies greatly among slug species . slugs often resort to aggression , attacking both
the irish yellow slug can be found in literature under different synonyms . apart from the systematic name
• it’s the star of several community celebrations , including the nationally–publicized russian river banana slug festival .
slug is required for cell survival during partial epithelial - mesenchymal transition of hgf - induced tubulogenesis .
so just as the road selection process appeared to nearing completion , the route had to be moved and the snail protected . that was duly done – along with excoriation of the environmentalists and ridicule of an innocent spotted slug . the kerry slug can be easily identified because it is the only slug that curls into a ball when poked . one can hardly blame it , given the angry councillors roaming the countryside .
a protected species under eu legislation , the slug was first discovered beside caragh lake , in co kerry , in 1842 . seven special areas of conservation ( sacs ) have been designated for the protection of the species .
the kerry slug is not one of our most glamorous species ,
mr gormley said .
but biodiversity is not just about glamorous species . my department is committed to protecting all species of conservation concern .
a separate plan aims to protect the kerry slug , geomalacus maculosus , first discovered beside caragh lake in 1842 and described as a species new to science in 1843 . it is a protected species under the eu habitats directive .
free - living slugs were photographed from six sites in ireland across the western counties of galway , kerry and cork ( fig .
bill , there ' s a shot of okenia zoobotryon at : urltoken this site ' s not quite finished , but you can use the image on your site if you like . kerry dr kerry b . clark florida institute of technology melbourne , florida usa
geomalacus maculosus kerry slug a rare slug found only in sw ireland , spain and possibly still in portugal . two colour versions are found , black with white marks in upland habitats and brown with yellow spots in damp woodland . it is a lusitanian species , protected in ireland by the wildlife act 1976 and the eu habitats directive .
reich i , mcdonnell rj , mcinerney c , callanan s , gormally mj . eu - protected slug
mccrone ej , sokolove pg . brain - gonad axis and photoperiodically - stimulated sexual maturation in the slug
how will i know if it is the kerry slug ? the kerry slug has a number of characteristics which make it relatively easy to identify . firstly it is only found in oak dominated woodland and unimproved open moor or blanket bog in co . kerry and west cork . secondly , specimens are either brown with yellow spots ( typical of woodland specimens ) or black with white spots ( typical of peatland specimens ) . lastly , when disturbed , the slug curls itself up into a defensive ball ( see photo ) . we encourage observers to submit a photograph with their records . attach photos to emails and send to info [ at ] biology . ie , ( just remove the square brackets ) .
young ag , port gr , emmett bj , green di ( 1991 ) development of a forecast of slug activity : models to relate slug activity to meteorological conditions . crop prot 10 : 413–415 . doi :
kerry katona has been taking on gruelling workouts in recent weeks and today she flaunted the fruits of her labour in a new photo .
another life : in 1842 , a few years before the famine and while co kerry still had a few native sea eagles to poison , a naturalist named william andrews found a large and unfamiliar spotted slug among mossy rocks beside lough caragh .
threatened invertebrates such as the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) , the freshwater pearl mussel ( margaritifera margaritifera ) , the freshwater white - clawed crayfish ( austropotamobius pallipes ) and the damselfly ( coenagrion lunulatum ) can be found in irish wetlands .
description : concerning its body colour , the irish yellow slug is quite similar to the yellow slug . usually , though , it is a bit darker and more greenish in colour . the spots dispersed over its body are irregular and may sometime melt together . generally , the irish yellow slug has more spots than the yellow slug and they reach further down the body sides . where the spotty pattern is limited at the foot margin by a light coloured zone near the foot margin in a yellow slug , this light coloured zone is missing in an irish yellow slug . between the centreline of the mantle shield and its margin , 23 wrinkles can be counted . an irish yellow slug ' s mucus is greenish in colour and so are its juveniles .
kerry spoke last year about her desire to get into shape , after saying she gained weight following her temporary split from third husband george .
when is the best time to spot it ? the best time to find the kerry slug is on wet , cloudy days when specimens are often seen crawling over bryophyte or moss - covered tree trunks or sandstone outcrops in suitable habitat . during sunny , warm weather the kerry slug takes refuge under bryophytes ( esp . mosses ) , in cracks on sandstone boulders and behind the vegetation at the base of sandstone rocks . surveys at dawn , dusk and during the night in spain have also proved successful .
the effect of these regulations is to add three species of invertebrates namely the kerry slug , freshwater crayfish and freshwater pearl mussel and all species of marine turtles to the list of protected species mentioned in the fifth schedule to the wildlife act , 1976 .
mcdonnell rj , gormally mj . distribution and population dynamics of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus ( arionidae ) . irish wildlife manuals , 2011 ; 54 . national parks and wildlife service , department of arts , heritage and the gaeltacht , dublin , ireland .
irish yellow slug ( limacus maculatus ) from cambridgeshire , england . picture : brian eversham , ( source ) .
irish yellow slug ( limacus maculatus ) from cambridgeshire , england . pictures : brian eversham , ( source ) .
webley d ( 1964 ) slug activity in relation to weather . ann app biol 53 : 407–414 . doi :
the project is in two phases . the first is to survey suitable areas in cork and kerry to get a distribution map for the species .
. . . historically , within ireland , g . maculosus was thought to be restricted to the devonian old red sandstone strata of west cork and kerry . however , during july 2010 , the species was collected on granite outcrops and on the trunks of conifer trees in cloosh forest , a conifer plantation near oughterard , co . galway ( kearney , 2010 ) . the widespread planting of commercial conifer forestry was originally thought to have had a detrimental effect on populations of given that the kerry slug was not found at the above sites , research focused on the recently discovered kerry slug population in the conifer plantation in cloosh forest , co . galway . . . .
reich , i . , o’meara , k . , mc donnell , r . , gormally , m . ( 2012 ) : ’an assessment of the use of conifer plantations by the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) with reference to the potential impacts of forestry operations’
current known main populations are located in the south west ( cork and kerry ) with a recently ( 2010 ) discovered population in co . galway .
the kerry slug is too recent an arrival , just a few thousand years , so continental drift is not the reason . one of the alternative explanations is that it arrived in the boats of the first settlers in ireland , genetic evidence indicates the people who first populated ireland came from northern iberia . we ' re most closely related to the basques . we brought the slug with us .
monday’s meeting of kerry county council was treated to a re - run of the ‘environmentalist and the snail’ story , with council officials quipping about the ‘snail’s pace’ of the macroom by pass and a healy rae claiming the snail was ‘looking over the ditch’ and laughing at the traffic jams between cork and kerry .
the kerry violet is the common name given to the greater butterwort which sits in the bog lands , digesting any unfortunate insects which fall into its grasp .
the kerry slug gained some notoriety when it was discovered at cascade wood in baile bhúirne diverting the proposed bypass to a different route . despite its high profile little is actually known about the mysterious creature which the south west of ireland shares with spain , portugal and possibly brittany .
reich , i . , o’meara , k . , cush , e . , tierney , f . , mc donnell , r . , gormally , m . ( 2013 ) : ' the kerry slug : how should we manage a protected species in commercial conifer plantations ? '
it wasn’t true . the judicial review that is currently delaying the road has been taken by residents near carrigaphooca castle . the grounds are an error in law relating to the assessment of the impact and rights of way . it has nothing to do with the protected kerry slug .
new roads can isolate and split up slug habitats , along with new building development . land “reclamation” could mean clearing the slug’s upland rocks , and grazing by “escaped” sheep , resident goats and wild deer all threaten the mossy interior of the woods .
] . the mechanisms involved in determining slug colouration most likely vary with species and local adaptations may arise within populations of slugs exposed to different environmental conditions . pigmentation has been explained as a simple mendelian - inherited trait for some species of slug [
, rather than in gardens . their need for wild habitats in one of the reasons the slug has become so rare .
where is it found ? the global distribution of the kerry slug is ireland , spain and portugal and although the species has been reported from france , its presence there has never been confirmed . in ireland , the slug is restricted to west cork and co . kerry . here it is found in two habitat types , oak dominated woodland and unimproved open moor or blanket bog . within these habitats it is only present if there are sandstone outcrops and boulders largely bare of vegetation except for lichens , mosses and liverworts on which the species is thought to feed .
in ireland , the slug is found only in west cork and kerry , as far as is known , and it is hoped the survey , being conducted by dr rory mcdonnell , of university college galway , will determine if it is also present in other parts of the country .
kerry had spent the morning doing an hour of yoga before enjoying an early walk with husband george kay . she told fans she felt “amazing” after her busy morning .
the banana slug has two pairs of tentacles functioning as sensory organs . the upper , longer pair are periscope - like eyestems . the lower , shorter pair ( above the slug’s mouth ) is for feeling and smelling . photo by greg bodi via wikimedia commons .
if the kerr slug made its way from iberia it would have done so along the coast which would have acted as a highway .
kerry slugs are protected in all of the locations that they are found in . habitat loss and loss of some of their favorite foods ( lichens and mosses ) have been hurting the populations of the unique little slug . protection , monitoring , and captive breeding of the species have helped to keep them going .
anatomy : like other slugs the kerry spotted slug has basic organs . it has an internal shell . the muscles of this animal includes muscles that pull the eyespot tentacles back , and have ommatophores as the only eye tentacle muscle darkly pigmented . other muscles include its paryngeal , furacate , buccalbulb , and cephalic reactors .
mc donnell , r . j . and gormally , m . j . ( 2011 ) . distribution and population dynamics of the kerry slug , geomalacus maculosus ( arionidae ) . irish wildlife manuals , no . 54 . national parks and wildlifeservice , department of arts , heritage and the gaeltacht , dublin , ireland .
there are now known to be 46 species of slugs in britain and ireland with 37 confirmed to date in ireland . arion vulgaris is a new arrival in ireland and has the potential to become a serious pest as it spread . in the us it is referred to as the “spanish slug” because of its western european origin and while it appears to be currently restricted to some of northerly mid - west states it appears to be spreading rapidly . the kerry slug
quigley , d . t . g . & k . flannery ( 2014 ) notes and records . plants . an exceptionally large “seaball” discovered on inch strand , co . kerry .
one significant finding was that , contrary to previous opinion , the kerry slug was found in coniferous woodland often at quite high densities . this has implications for the species as it means that there is potentially more habitat for it but that as a legally protected species , the impact of forestry operations need to be mitigated for .
when attacked , slugs can contract their body , making themselves harder and more compact and more still and round . by doing this , they become firmly attached to the substrate . this , combined with the slippery mucus they produce , makes slugs more difficult for predators to grasp . the unpleasant taste of the mucus is also a deterrent . some species present different response behaviors when attacked , such as the kerry slug . in contrast to the general behavioral pattern , the kerry slug retracts its head , lets go of the substrate , rolls up completely , and stays contracted in a ball - like shape . this is a unique feature among all the arionidae , and among most other slugs . some slugs can self - amputate ( autotomy ) a portion of their tail to help the slug escape from a predator . some slug species hibernate underground during the winter in temperate climates , but in other species , the adults die in the autumn .
camouflage implies selective pressure from a visual predator . although passerine birds are known to prey upon a number of medium - large arionid slug species [
the slug is also found in spain and portugal . the species has been reported from france , though its presence has never been confirmed there .
habitat and distribution : on the crimea peninsula , in the caucasus mountains , as well as in bulgaria , the irish yellow slug inhabits deciduous forests . in northern and central europe , on the other hand , the species lives in natural habitats , often in woody places , below stones and fallen logs . contrary to the yellow slug , the irish yellow slug is not a commensal species , but prefers habitats near to nature . on the british isles , however , limacus maculatus is often found in the same habitats , as its relative , the yellow slug . the slugs often hide in fallen logs , often whole tree trunks are covered with mucus . the irish yellow slug feeds on mushrooms , lichens and dead plants .
reich , i . , o ' meara , k . , cush , e . , tierney , f . , mc donnell , r . , gormally , m . ( 2012 ) : ’the impact of forestry management practices on the distribution of the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus allman and the investigation of other possible factors limiting its occurrence’
/ u / seandalai you ' re the divil , when you get behind the keys . it was a sad day for the kerry gastropods , when your lithic tools they did feel .
reich i , o’meara k , mcdonnell rj , gormally mj . an assessment of the use of conifer plantations by the kerry slug ( geomalacus maculosus ) with reference to the impact of forestry operations . irish wildlife manuals . 2012 ; 64 . national parks and wildlife service , department of arts , heritage and the gaeltacht . theatr irel .
) are a commercially available biological control method that are effective against a wide range of common slug species . the nematodes are applied in water and actively seek out slugs in the soil and infect them , leading to the death of the slug . this control method is suitable for use in organic growing systems . other slug control methods are generally ineffective on a large scale , but can be somewhat useful in small gardens . these include beer traps ,
the slug mouth muscle comes from a california sea slug , aplysia californica , and was put into a 3d - printed body . sea slug muscles can apparently handle changes in environment better than many other muscles , which is a good baseline to start designing robots around . right now , the robots can only move one direction when stimulated . in future versions , the researchers hope to incorporate more nerves , so they can make the robots move forward and backward .
hand search is the obvious option – “labour intensive , but not excessively so” – if there are certain problems about the underside of large boulders and the higher reaches of trees . while alternatives are assessed , the merits of just looking carefully inspire the kerry slug survey of ireland ( go to urltoken or kerryslug . com ) . here the npws , with dr rory mcdonnell of the applied ecology unit of nui galway , are appealing for volunteer sightings , with photos of the slug’s two colourways to help .
] ) . however , there is also evidence that different colour morphs in slug species can arise as local adaptations to different environmental conditions . while evans [
- tests were used to test whether rgb reflectance values differed significantly between woodland and blanket bog substrate and between each of the two slug colour morphs . students
snail and slug promote epithelial - mesenchymal transition through beta - catenin - t - cell factor - 4 - dependent expression of transforming growth factor - beta3 .
the findings of the first research project have been published as an irish wildlife manual no . 54 [ 4 , 832kb ] . more research is being undertaken with npws funding on the distribution of kerry slug in conifer plantations and the impact of clear felling on these populations . national university of galway is also carrying out research on the diet and genetics of the species .
slug , or land slug , is a common name for any apparently shell - less terrestrial gastropod mollusc . the word slug is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell , a very reduced shell , or only a small internal shell , particularly sea slugs and semislugs ( this is in contrast to the common name snail , which applies to gastropods that have a coiled shell large enough that the animal can fully retract its soft parts into the shell ) .
slug , or land slug , is a common name for any apparently shell - less terrestrial gastropod mollusc . the word slug is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell , a very reduced shell , or only a small internal shell , particularly sea slugs and semislugs ( this is in contrast to the common name snail , which applies to gastropods that have a coiled shell large enough that the animal can fully retract its soft parts into the shell ) .
most people heard of the kerry slug for the first time two years ago , when it was found on the route of a planned bypass road at the cascade wood site , near ballyvourney . environment minister john gormley then agreed to extend a conservation area , so that the site could be saved . that would call for a re - routing of a small section of the road .
branson , b . a ( 1980 ) .
the recent gastropoda of oklahoma , part viii . the slug families limacidae , arionidae , veronicellidae , and philomycidae
.
wherever you find banana slugs , you’ll recognize them when you see them . nothing in the forest looks quite like a banana slug . ( see the accompanying photo . )
the national parks and wildlife service ( npws ) felt confident that the slug was secure and might even expand its range as climate warms . but it had little actual data on how it was faring , especially outside the sac boundaries . as new development began to threaten its iberian populations , the animal was moved up in priority under the eu’s habitats directive . in 2007 , in one of many commission actions against laggardly states , the european court of justice ordered ireland to establish a system of strict protection for the kerry slug , including monitoring of its population .
one of the wonders of kerry is its diversity . coast and mountain is a magical mix and this is one of europe’s whale watching hotspots – even giant humpbacks have been seen in the atlantic waters to the west .
kerry , thanks for reminding me that point reyes has banana slugs . i forgot to include pore in my list the first go - around , but i ' ve taken care of that now . btw , although it ' s totally none of my business , i have to admit that i ' m curious to know what your spouse or significant other thinks of your slug - kissing dispositions .
jordaens k , van riel p , geenen s , verhagen r , backeljau t . food - induced body pigmentation questions the taxonomic value of colour in the self - fertilizing slug
i commented about a banana slug i saw on the stairway from one of the beaches at olympic np . it had black spots and looked a lot like a ripe banana .
meanwhile , kerry said this week that she ' d love a sixth child to add to her brood of five : molly , 15 , lilly - sue , 14 , heidi , max , eight , and dylan , two .
the aim of the kerry slug survey the aim of the survey is to accrue modern records for this internationally important invertebrate with the overall objective of producing an up - to - date distribution map . in ireland , there are five 10km grid squares where the species has not been recorded since pre - 1950 and other areas where the last records are pre - 1980 . the survey will help to address these important
should have the status of a genus on its own . the polish malacologist and slug specialist andrzej wiktor disagrees . in that case , the species would have to be added to the
the mucus secreted by the foot contains fibres that help prevent the slug from slipping down vertical surfaces . the
slime trail
a slug leaves behind has some secondary effects : other slugs coming across a slime trail can recognise the slime trail as produced by one of the same species , which is useful in finding a mate . following a slime trail is also part of the hunting behaviour of some carnivorous slugs . body mucus provides some protection against predators , as it can make the slug hard to pick up and hold by a bird ' s beak , for example , and the mucus itself can be distasteful . some species of slug , such as limax maximus , secrete slime cords to suspend a pair during copulation .
there will soon be some extra space in the family home as kerry ' s eldest daughter molly wants to be a surgeon and will move to ireland to do a transition year . there she’ll be staying with dad brian mcfadden’s parents .
kerry said : “molly wants to be a surgeon . she wants to get really good grades in her gcses so she’s going to ireland to do a transition year . this will give her an extra year of biology and sciences . ”
op is suggesting the existence within the last 20 , 000 years of a direct land bridge from northern spain to kerry . one look at a topographic map of the area would have told him why that ' s utterly and completely impossible
the ring takes in a great variety of landscapes – the famous mountains and lakes of kerry , rolling farmland and rugged heath and moor , ancient woodlandsand some of europe’s most beautiful coastline – and is home to a huge variety of wildlife .
i am looking at the impact of clear felling on the species inhabiting a commercial conifer plantation in connemara , investigating its habitat preferences , abundance and impact on the sympatric slug species lehmannia marginata .
the slime also contains pheremones that help slugs find mates . since the banana slug is a hermaphrodite - - each animal having both male and female reproductive organs – the task is not especially difficult .
ironically , neither the kerry slug nor the castle need have caused any delay to the macroom by - pass , which is at the heart of the intense local pressure to build this road . the castle is 6 kilometres from macroom and the snail more than twice that . the macroom by - pass is actually part of the planned cork – killarney dual carriageway . if the council had settled for a by pass it could have been build 10 years ago .
= 6 of each colour morph ) were sacrificed using chloroform vapour and 1 cm × 1 cm skin samples from the slug mantle ( effectively all the mantle ) were removed following rowson et al . [
“this will be the first full survey in 30 years and we’re asking people to be the lookout for the slug , ” said dr mcdonnell , who is starting work in the glengarriff area this week .
but the road , which would have been part of the 21km macroom bypass project , has been shelved because of budgetary cutbacks . so , slug is safe for a few more years , at least .
body mucus provides some protection against predators , as it can make the slug hard to pick up and hold by a bird ' s beak , for example , and the mucus itself can be distasteful .
a brown and yellow spotted slug curled up into a tight ball so that its head is withdrawn completely , its mantle edge and tail are nearly touching , and none of its foot surface is exposed .
the mucus coating that most folks call slime is certainly a signature attribute . it actually serves many useful purposes . in addition to helping the slug avoid dehydration , the mucus helps the slug slide along the ground on the muscular foot covering its lower body , protects the animal’s soft body from sharp rocks , twigs , and other hazards , and discourages predators with its foul taste and mouth - numbing anesthetic effects .
most mammals native to ireland and long established introduced species are found in the park . the bank vole was first identified in 1964 in northwest kerry . its range has now expanded and now includes the park . pine marten is another notable species in the park .
hesse , the slight darkening of juveniles observed after 84 days of feeding trials in this study is likely to be a natural result of growth . as in some other slug species ( e . g . in
the mucus secreted by the foot contains fibres that help prevent the slug from slipping down vertical surfaces . the
slime trail
a slug leaves behind has some secondary effects : other slugs coming across a slime trail can recognise the slime trail as produced by one of the same species , which is useful in finding a mate . following a slime trail is also part of the hunting behaviour of some carnivorous slugs .
a three - year research project has been completed on the kerry slug , the first of its kind on the species . this has developed a safe method of trapping and locating slugs using baited refuge traps . the project also provided information on the movements of slugs in woodland and on boulder fields . unsurprisingly , the research found that most slugs do not appear to move far . however more information is needed to determine whether the species can recolonise areas it has become extinct in .
reich i , gormally mj , allcock al , mcdonnell rj , castillejo j , iglasias j , quinteiro j , smith cj . genetic study reveals close links between irish and northern spanish specimens of the protected lusitanian slug
( a 180° twisting of the internal organs ) during development . internally , slug anatomy clearly shows the effects of this rotation—but externally , the bodies of slugs appear more or less symmetrical , except for the positioning of the
can a small , slimy , shell - less , forest - dwelling gastropod whose diet includes animal droppings and other dead stuff develop an enthusiastic fan following ? you’re darn right . consider these facts about the banana slug :
. . . free - living slugs were photographed from six sites in ireland across the western counties of galway , kerry and cork ( fig . 1 ) . sites were selected on the basis that previous surveys had found high numbers of kerry slugs in these areas [ 30 , 33 , 34 , 35 ] . forested sites were a combination of conifer plantations and oak woodlands ( fig . 1 : sites 1 , 3 and 5 ) , and open habitats surveyed were blanket bog areas ( fig . 1 : sites 2 , 4 and 6 ) . . . .
its distribution and status in ireland is summarised by platts & speight ( 1988 ) . it is common in parts of west cork , south kerry and north kerry , in areas where acidic devonian sandstone rocks outcrop . its presence there is an old biogeographical puzzle but , along with other so - called lusitanian elements of the irish fauna and flora , it is possible that it was accidentally introduced at an early date by man . in the stone and early bronze ages commerce between iberia and south - west ireland was well - developed and could have provided the mechanism for transfer .
slugs do not have a good public profile and most would consider them at best unpleasant and at worst , pests . the kerry slug cannot be accused of being a pest as it is only found in the wild landscapes of the south and west . the animals themselves are attractively marked with white or cream spots on a black or brown background . black slugs predominate in heathlands , whereas the brown form is only found in woodlands . however this is not fixed and the black slugs can be seen in wooded areas .
scientists assume that the irish yellow slug originally came from the black sea region ( north - eastern turkey , caucasus , crimea peninsula and bulgaria ) . from there it has been introduced in several other parts of the former soviet union . besides , the irish yellow slug , as its name indicates , is present in ireland , as well as in parts of great britain . in continental europe , the species is expected to be found , especially in france .
shirley mdf , rushton sp , young ag , port gr ( 2001 ) simulating the long - term dynamics of slug populations : a process - based modelling approach for pest control . j appl ecol 38 : 401–411 . doi :
the basis for my research is the kerry slug geomalacus maculosus . this species is only found in ireland and northern spain and portugal , exhibiting a typical disjunct ’lusitanian’ distribution . due to this narrow range it is listed as a protected species in article 17 of the eu habitats directive and has further protection under irish legislation . there is a lack of quantitative data on favourable management practices , the habitat size required to sustain populations and genetic variation across its home range , so my work is focusing on closing these knowledge gaps :
irish yellow slug a medium to large slug with pale greenish - grey body overlaid with large irregular dark green markings . keel very short , sole whitish or yellowish . mucus pale yellow to deep orange . tentacles grey to bluish . a common variant has the dark mottling broken up into fine spots which create a spotted appearance rather similar to that of limacus flavus which it appears to displace . a late introduction from south - east europe , now widespread and common .
. ) , demonstrating greater levels of boldness and exploratory behaviour , respectively . such consistent intraspecific behavioural types may also be common to other slugs , and studying their occurrence could have useful practical implications . for example , the grey field slug
during sunny , warm weather the slug takes refuge under mosses , in cracks on boulders , and behind the vegetation at the base of sandstone rocks . surveys at dawn , dusk , and during the night in spain have also proved successful .
we are delighted that you have recognized and publicized our charisma . thank you , thank you ! . . . seriously , though , thanks for your great fun facts on our namesake , the banana slug . keep up your great blog .
large black slug arion ater a large roundback slug varying in colour through browns to black , with a similarly coloured , dull foot fringe and exhibiting a strong rocking response when stimulated . ubiquitous up to moderate altitudes . it is predominantly olive - , yellow - , reddish - to dark - brown or black with sole of more or less the same shade or lighter . a jet black form occurs on peatlands . the foot fringe is lined and coloured a similar shade to the back .
almost as impressive : his laundry list of on - field incidents , from kicking cardinals running back larry centers in the head , to spitting in the face of 49ers wide receiver j . j . stokes , to breaking the jaw of panthers quarterback kerry collins on a vicious helmet - to - helmet hit .
ireland . normally it is found in oak dominated woodland and unimproved open moor or blanket bog . within these habitats it is only present if there are sandstone outcrops and boulders largely bare of vegetation except for lichens , mosses and liverworts on which the species is thought to feed . ' we need to get the public involved in this survey to extend our knowledge of the kerry slug ' s distribution within ireland ' says dr . rory mc donnell , applied ecology unit , national university of ireland , galway . ' this is an easily identifiable slug ' says rory , ' with two colourations , both with spots . they are either brown with yellow spots , typical of woodland specimens or black with white spots , typical of peatland specimens . lastly , when disturbed , the slug curls itself up into a defensive ball . we encourage observers to submit a photograph with their records . rory heads up the collaboration between the national parks and wildlife service ( npws ) the applied ecology unit at the national university of ireland , galway and biology . ie .
snails ' veliger larvae already have primordial organs of an adult snail , such as eyes , tentacle stumps and the shell lid ( operculum ) . there is also a shell , which is reduced later in shell - less ( slug ) species .
’ geomalacus maculosus : why is this lusitanian slug species thriving in a commercial forestry plantation 200km north of its previously known distribution ? ’ oral presentation at the world congress of malacology 2013 , ponta delgada , sao miguel , azores islands , portugal .
andrews managed , however , to get his specimen to another young naturalist , george allman , graduating in medicine at trinity college . after some dissection , allman introduced the slug to science as a new species , geomalacus maculosus , or “spotted earth mollusc” .
the more we learn about banana slugs , the more we come to appreciate that their presence enriches and helps to stabilize the ecosystems they inhabit . by feeding on detritus , they help to recycle nutrients and make them available for new growth . slug excretions not only provide nitrogen - rich fertilizer , but also help to disperse spores and seeds needed for forest plant regeneration . since the banana slug’s ecological niche is not yet fully understood , we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are other praiseworthy contributions .
partial map of ireland showing survey sites ( black circles ) inside the distribution range of g . maculosus ( shaded area ) . conifer ( 1 ) and blanket bog ( 2 ) habitats at oughterrard , co . galway ; conifer habitat at tooreenafersha , co . kerry ( 3 ) ; blanket bog habitat adjacent to uragh woods , co . kerry ( 4 ) ; oak forest habitat at glengarriff nature reserve , co . cork ( 5 ) and blanket bog at leahill bog , co . cork ( 6 ) . black squares show the locations of galway , cork and dublin cities for reference . map modified from g . kindermann , 2016©
today , its range in kerry and parts of cork is mostly on moors and in woods between the mountains , from killarney west to the dingle peninsula . the humid air and high rainfall of the region lets it roam among the rocks of open bog and lake shores ( where it is generally greeny - black with creamy white spots ) , as well as in the oakwoods ( where it is more typically ginger , with yellowy spots ) . it shares with its spanish and portuguese ancestors an affinity with old , weathered rocks , such as kerry’s acid red sandstone , with rich rugs of lichens , mosses and liverworts for both food and shelter .
there are many species of sea slugs in irish waters that are usually only seen by scuba divers . however , sometimes a few get washed up on the shore and are easily overlooked once they are encrusted in sand . the internal shells of the sea slug


the green chromide ( etroplus suratensis ) is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern india and sri lanka .

other common names include pearlspot cichlid , banded pearlspot , and striped chromide .

in kerala in india it is known locally as the karimeen .

this fish is native to sri lanka and coastal regions of india .

many populations are likely introductions .

it is also introduced in singapore , where it occurs in estuaries .

the adult is oval in shape with a short snout .

it is gray-green in colour with dark barring and a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin .

it commonly reaches 20 centimetres ( 7.9 in ) in length , and the maximum length is twice that .

this species lives in brackish water habitat types , such as river deltas .

it eats mainly aquatic plants , but it consumes the occasional mollusc , diatoms , and other animal matter .

this species engages in attentive parental care in which several adults care for each brood .

in 2010 this species was named the official state fish of kerala .

the following year was declared " the year of the karimeen " .

karimeen pollichadhu , a fried dish , is a delicacy served in restaurants .

it is familiar to tourists , but because it is very expensive it is not easily accessible to the common man .

production of the species for food is expected to increase in the near future .

they are more closely related to the paretroplus fishes from madagascar .

green chromide

the green chromide has a green or gold tinted oval shaped body with dark vertical bars . there are often gold spots found on the upper half of the body . the green chromide stays slender compared to other cichlid species .
the green chromide ( etroplus suratensis ) is also known by tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the pearl spot , banded pearl spot , banded chromide , banded etroplus , karimeen , or pearlspot cichlid .
southern india : green chromides are found in the fresh and brackish water habitats .
etroplus suratensis can tolerate freshwater for short periods of time but prefers brackish conditions . use fine sand for the substrate and provide hiding places with caves or wood . open swimming spaces must be provided . green chromide lives in a brackish water . even though they are aggressive in small tanks , they are peaceful in big tanks when there are at least 6 of green chromide fish .
the green chromide has a green , greenish brown , or gold tinted oval shaped body with six dark vertical bars on the body ( excluding those on the head and caudal peduncle ) . gold spots are distributed over the body of the fish , primarily on the upper half .
the green chromide cichlid inhabits brackish estuaries , coastal lagoons , the lower reaches of rivers and a number of freshwater habitats including a number of inland lakes . it is a hardy species that can breath atmospheric air .
green chromide ( etroplus suratensis ) from lim , kelvin k . p . & jeffrey k . y . low , 1998 . a guide to the common marine fishes of singapore . singapore science centre . 163 pp .
it’s sometimes referred to using alternative vernacular names , most commonly ‘pearl spot’ , ‘banded pearl spot’ , ‘banded chromide’ , or ‘karimeen’ .
the green chromide is a relative peaceful species that can be kept in fresh or brackish water aquariums with other asian cichlids , archer fish , or similar sized loaches with the same water parameters . etroplus suratensis can live in freshwater environments , but they prefer brackish water conditions .
compared to other cichlid species , the green chromide keeps a “slender” body profile . although there is no sure visible way to determine the sex of green chromides ; males that are the same age as females tend to be larger and during breeding , the males develop more intense colors and black occipital stripes between the eye and opercle . females will develop a reddish , swollen , modified ovipositor during breeding .
tan heok hui and lionel ng chin soon . 28 oct 2016 . green chromides spawning at sentosa . singapore biodiversity records 2016 : 141 - 142 .
of the ten green chromide fry i obtained about 11 months ago , a pair has formed and they have spawned for the second time . here they are just finishing up , their pink eggs hanging from tiny threads . this second time , the parents chose exactly the same place on an artificial tree stump to deposit them , apparently sensing it to be the safest , most easily defended site .
suneetha gunawickrama , k . b . , 2007 - ruhuna journal of science 2 : 70 - 81 morphological heterogeneity and population differentiation in the green chromid etroplus suratensis ( pisces : cichlidae ) in sri lanka .
quality flakes and pellets can provide the staple diet . vegetable matter should also be given in the form of spinach , peas , and lettuce . green chromides will also accept treats of blood worms and brine shrimp .
green chromides are substrate spawners that may also use caves as spawning sites . wild fish in sri lanka breed twice a year from december to april and again from june to september during the pre monsoon and monsoon seasons . during these periods , water salinity increases and the water becomes cleaner .
green chromide etroplus suratensis family cichlidae updated oct 2016 where seen ? this large colourful fish is often seen in groups in our mangroves at sungei buloh wetland reserve and pasir ris . the fish is native to india and sri lanka and was introduced to singapore , possibly through the aquarium trade . it has since escaped and are now breeding in our waters . features : up to 30cm , usually about 20cm long . oval with a short snout and small mouth . greyish green with 6 to 8 dark bars , a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins , many scales with a pearly spot . it is sometimes called the pearlspot . what does it eat ? it is mainly herbivorous feeding on filamentous algae , plant material . it may also eat insects . at sungei buloh , often seen nibbling on jetty legs and mangrove roots . baby chromides : several adults may take care of a single brood that presumably were spawned by only two of the adults . human uses : elsewhere , it is raised in aquaculture and also in the aquarium trade .
green chromides are classed as open water spawners but may use caves as their spawning sites . normally the eggs will be deposited on a flat rock which has previously been cleaned by the parents . the eggs should hatch after 36 hours and the fry will be free swimming a few days later . the fry can be fed on newly hatched brine shrimp , rotifers or crushed flake .
: an oval - shaped fish with a pointed head . the coloration is olive green to greenish brown . the body is marked with six to eight transverse bars which may at times , be indistinct . each scale has a golden spot and the fins are body - colored . the anal fins may have some blue iridescence . at spawning times , all the colors are enhanced , making the normal dull - coloring look more impressive .
in an aquarium environment , because they are sexually mature within a year , it is best to place a group of juvenile green chromides together until they pair off . spawning can be induced by gradually increasing the salinity in the breeding tank to replicate the seasonal monsoons . put several flat rocks in the aquarium and slowly increase the salinity in the tank to a brackish level . as the water becomes brackish , pairs will begin digging pits to use as nests .
minimum tank size : 100 gallons care level : moderate temperament : relatively peaceful with similar sized fish aquarium hardiness : moderately hardy water conditions : 72°f - 80°f° f , kh 10 - 25 , ph 7 . 0 - 8 . 0 max . size : 16 inches color form : green , yellow , brown diet : carnivorous compatibility : ok with other asian cichlids or loaches of similar size origin : sri lanka family : cichlidae lifespan : 6 - 12 years aquarist experience level : advanced
is a euryhaline species that inhabits mainly brackish water and river mouths . it is an oval - shaped cichlid with a short snout , small mouth not extending past the front margin of the eye with a greyish - green colouration on the flanks , with 6 to 8 dark bars and a dark spot at base of the pectoral fin . most scales on the sides are with a pearly spot ( costa 2007 ) . macrophytic fragments form the most important component of its diet along with molluscs , although detritus , diatoms , and animal matter are also ingested ( de silva
sides with 6 to 8 dark bars , a dark spot at base of pectoral fin , many scales on sides with a pearly spot . largely herbivorous , in small groups apparently confined to estuaries along north coast of singapore . to 30 cm . popular aquarium fish , introduced ( native to india and sri lanka ) .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
madhusoodana kurup , b . , basheer , v . s . , raghavan , r . & cox , n . a .
etroplus suratensis is assessed as least concern in view of its wide distribution , presumed large overall population , even though it has a relatively declining trend in the wild , in kerala .
is distributed in the coastal regions of peninsular india and sri lanka . in india , the wild populations have been recorded from the states of kerala and tamil nadu . there are also populations in goa , andhra pradesh , orissa and west bengal ( jayaram 1981 & 2010 , biju 2005 ) . these are likely introduced populations ( v . s . basheer pers . comm . ) . the species has now been introduced to dam reservoirs in the mountains and lakes and culture ponds ( rema devi
( 1990 ) . adults engage in altruistic multiple parental care where several adults care for a single brood that presumably were spawned by only two of the adults ( ward and wyman 1977 ) .
etroplus suratensis is a popular foodfish . it is known locally as karimeen and is considered a delicacy . the species has been introduced to various other man - made habitats like tanks , ponds and dam reservoirs for culture and export .
are subject to various pressures brought on by people like habitat deterioration brought on by the disposal of solid and liquid wastes and the discharge of human fecal matter from adjacent habitations and an increasing number of tourism resorts and houseboats , which are going beyond the carrying capacity of the backwaters / estuaries . a major threat is from exotic species like
2009 ) . there have also been reports in the past , of the epizootic ulcerative syndrome ( eus ) disease outbreak , which has been to have spread in south and south - east asia since 1980 ( pathiratne & rajapakshe 1998 ) .
despite the species being in high demand , the wild populations of the species have not been given sufficient conservation attention . there have been attempts in the past to create ' no fishing zones ' within some of the larger estuaries and the species did seek refuge in these protected zones . such no - fishing zones should be extrapolated to other regions as well , to guarantee effective genetic preservation . this is declared as the state fish by the government of kerala . captive breeding has been undertaken by padmakumar et al . ( 2004 ) . an aquatic sanctuary was made in vembanad lake for this species . the vembanad lake protection forums has started ' matsyatavalam ' ( home of fishes ) for the sustainable fisheries of this species . cage culture of this species is being practiced in vembanad lake and vypin islands .
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all time favourite : fishermen in kerala , who have been hit by the trawler ban and bad weather , are trying to make a living by operating in the backwaters where the all - time favourite fish , karimeen , is still available . they fetch anywhere between rs . 120 and rs . 180 a kg . photo : h vibhu
karimeen ( pearl spot ) , the ‘upper - middle class ' fish which is a favourite with tourists , is getting a profile uplift .
kerala fisheries minister s . sarma announced in the assembly this week that the oval - shaped fish , which often serves as kerala ' s icon in the minds of gourmets , will be the official state fish . and , 2010 - 11 is being observed as ‘the year of karimeen . ' the measure is expected to boost the production of karimeen ( etroplus suratensis ) .
already , a dozen states have an official fish . the national bureau of fish genetics resources had in 2008 suggested that states adopt a state fish , à la state bird and animal .
fried pearl spot ( karimeen pollichadhu ) is a delicacy that tops menus at restaurants . few tourists leave without having tasted it . a boat ride in the backwaters while relishing the karimeen pollichadhu is an integral part of an average tourist ' s kerala experience .
however , for the common man , karimeen is too hot a delicacy — it is one of the most expensive fish . karimeen too is beyond the pocket of the poor .
the kuttanad region in alappuzha district is considered the tharavad ( family home ) of the fish . kerala now produces only 2 , 000 tonnes of karimeen . “because of the new initiative , the production is expected to go up to 5 , 000 tonnes in a year , ” fisheries director p . i . sheikh pareeth said .
tojo mathew was leaving the uae for good to join his wife in delhi .
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name from the words ' etron ' meaning belly and ' oplon ' for arms ; referring to the spines on the lower side ; that is , the long spinour anal - fin .
brackish ; benthopelagic ; depth range 10 - ? m . tropical ; 23°c - 26°c ( ref . 2060 ) ; 11°n - 6°s
maturity : l m 15 . 0 range ? - ? cm max length : 40 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 41236 ) ; common length : 20 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 6028 )
primarily found in brackish water but known to tolerate fresh or marine waters for short periods ( ref . 48490 ) . found in large rivers , reservoirs , lagoons and estuaries . feed on filamentous algae , plant material and insects .
after spawning , about 500 eggs are laid and attached to a submerged log , rock or sometimes roots and weeds , in still or slow flowing water . parents guard and fan the eggs until hatching , usually about 4 days . the fry shoal around their parents during the first weeks of growth . parents refrain from feeding from the time of spawning until the fry become independent .
pethiyagoda , r . , 1991 . freshwater fishes of sri lanka . the wildlife heritage trust of sri lanka , colombo . 362 p . ( ref . 6028 )
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 6250 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01660 ( 0 . 00974 - 0 . 02827 ) , b = 2 . 94 ( 2 . 79 - 3 . 09 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this species & ( sub ) family - body ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 2 . 9 ±0 . 26 se ; based on food items .
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : medium , minimum population doubling time 1 . 4 - 4 . 4 years ( tm = 2 ) .
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : low to moderate vulnerability ( 32 of 100 ) .
from the day we opened the first store in maidenhead , we’ve firmly believed that one key to our success is employing fish keepers .
no obvious external differences . when spawning , it may be possible to observe the more pointed genital papillae of the male .
: to 18
( 46 cm ) in nature , although not larger than 12
( 30 cm ) in aquaria .
: southeastern asia ; lives in brackish water river estuaries and moves in schools between pure freshwater and sea water at different times during the year .
: a 45 - 55 gallon ( 170 - 209 l ) or 40 ( 101 cm ) is sufficient for fish under 8
( 20 cm ) in length . adult fish need at tank of at least 56
( 142 cm ) or 75 gallons ( 285 l ) to prosper . use a substrate of coral sand or less ideally , fine gravel . the tank can be well - planted with large , robust plants , although this species is a known plant eater . provide hiding places and retreats with large caves and wood . leave open swimming areas .
: ph 7 - 9 ( 8 . 0 ) , 12 - 30 dh ( 20 ) , 73 - 81°f ( 23 - 27°c ) . a 1 to 1 . 5 % addition of sea salt is necessary . to obtain this dilution rate see suggestions under
: a shoaling fish that should be kept in groups of at least 6 fish . in smaller schools , quarrels may break out . this fish may be more suitable to salt water community tanks than freshwater tanks . this fish can be kept with other brackish water species including
, crustaceans , insects ; chopped meat ; pellets ; large flakes ; oatmeal ; plant matter ; vegetables ; spinach , peas , lettuce .
sex : the only definite difference is the shape of the genital papilla which is visible at spawning times .
: an open water spawner that lays up to 1000 eggs on a previously cleaned rock or in a cave . they hatch in 36 to 50 hours and are carefully guarded by the parents . the young are free - swimming after 7 - 8 more days . start feeding with
nauplii , roftiers , and dry foods . the young are susceptible to fungal infections if kept in freshwater , and are difficult to raise even in brackish water . their coloring is different from that of the adults . they have a single transverse band around the mid - section . this band disappears , and for several weeks the fry are just silver . eventually they develop the adult coloring .
: sexually mature from 6
( 15 cm ) . this fish ' s colors are enhanced when they are kept in pure sea water .
: 6 . a large fish that needs to be kept in brackish water .
carbon dioxide ( co2 ) emissions generated from urltoken operations ( server , data transfer , travel ) are mitigated through an association with anthrotect , an organization working with afro - indigenous and embera communities to protect forests in colombia ' s darien region . anthrotect is protecting the habitat of mongabay ' s mascot : the scale - crested pygmy tyrant .
rainforest
is used interchangeably with
rain forest
on this site .
jungle
is generally not used .
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specimens collected by fishermen in chilika lake in odisha state , india , the world ' s second largest coastal lagoon .
etroplus : from the ancient greek ἦτρον ( etron ) , meaning ‘belly , lower abdomen’ , and ὅπλον ( hoplon ) , meaning ‘weapon , armour’ , in reference to the prominent spinous anal - fin rays in members of the genus .
suratensis : named for the type locality “suratte” , now the city of surat .
generally considered native to peninsular india and sri lanka although some sources state that it is only native to sri lanka and was introduced to india for aquaculture purposes in 1950 .
given that it was described from india in 1790 this would seem unlikely , however , and one of the publications often quoted ( welcomme , 1988 ) refers only to ‘aquaculture and stocking lakes’ in 1950 , suggesting it was simply introduced to land - locked freshwater environments at that time .
in addition day ( 1877 ) wrote “i have taken it inland in the wynaad” , i . e . , wayanad district in northeastern kerala .
in india its range stretches southwards down the western coast from the state of gujarat through maharashtra , goa , karnataka , and kerala states as far as the southern part of the peninsula in tamil nadu state .
there also exist records from andhra pradesh , odisha and west bengal states on the eastern coast with these populations also thought to have been introduced for aquaculture .
occurrences in sri lanka are mostly limited to the western coast and pertain to north , north western , north central , western and southern provinces but there is at least one record from batticaloa in eastern province suggesting it might be distributed around much of the island .
e . suratensis has also been introduced to peninsular malaysia and singapore where feral populations appear to be thriving .
type locality is ‘suratte , india , 21°12’n , 72°55’e’ , referring to modern - day surat which lies on the lower tapti river in gujarat state , western india .
this species is euryhaline and mostly inhabits brackish estuaries , coastal lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers .
it also occurs in freshwater habitats , however , including a number of inland lakes in sri lanka although it appears to have been introduced intentionally .
there exists observational evidence to suggest that it can breathe atmospheric air to an extent , probably an adaptation to conditions of low dissolved oxygen .
the congener e . maculatus typically occurs in the same habitats and there exists evidence to suggest that this sympatry is not random and may represent a mutually beneficial relationship with a little cheating on the part of e . maculatus ( see ‘notes’ ) .
this is a gregarious species that is best - maintained in a sizeable group ( see ‘behaviour and compatibility’ ) meaning only the very largest home aquaria or public installations are suitable for long - term care .
this species can be maintained in fresh or brackish water so long as acidic conditions are avoided .
décor is largely down to personal choice although a degree of structure , perhaps incorporating a sandy substrate , variably - shaped rocks and some driftwood branches , would adequately simulate natural conditions .
it is intolerant to accumulation of organic pollutants and requires spotless water meaning weekly water changes of 25 - 50 % volume should be considered routine .
ph : 7 . 0 – 8 . 5 , although in sri lanka it has been recorded in brackish lagoons where the salinity ranges from 0 . 02 to 28 . 00 with ph values of 5 . 0 to 9 . 6 .
observations of wild fish suggest it to be something of a generalist with a tendency to graze aufwuchs and filamentous algae from solid surfaces .
the stomachs of feral specimens in singapore were found to contain detritus , most of the algae groups , crustacean larvae and appendages , animal and plant organic matter , and sand , for example , while the fish themselves were seen biting at floating twigs , grazing submerged plant roots , the bottom of sluice gates and the sides of submerged pillars .
in the aquarium it can be offered high quality prepared foods but displays a preference for small live or frozen items such as chironomid larvae ( bloodworm ) , tubifex , artemia , mosquito larvae , etc .
at least some of the dried products should contain a significant proportion of vegetable matter such as spirulina or similar , while chopped peas and suchlike are also useful supplements .
relatively peaceful unless breeding and will not predate on any but the smallest fishes .
in a community setting the addition of a group or two of gregarious , pelagic species to act as ‘ dithers ‘ is recommended .
in freshwater cyprinids such as certain dawkinsia , devario or rasbora spp . are ideal for this purpose while in the brackish aquarium salt - tolerant poeciliid livebearers , e . g . , poecilia sphenops , can be used .
best avoided are territorial or otherwise aggressive species , including other cichlids unless the aquarium is very large , and those that require soft , acidic water .
etroplus species are loosely gregarious and tends to form groups unless spawning with juveniles in particular displaying a strong social response when threatened .
a group of 8 + individuals should therefore be the minimum purchase and these will form a noticeable dominance hierarchy once sexual maturity is reached .
when maintained in smaller numbers weaker specimens can become the target of excessive abuse by dominant individuals or the group may fail to settle and behave nervously .
males tend to be larger than females of equivalent age but sexing of non - nuptial individuals can be tricky .
in nuptial males the colour pattern becomes generally more intense and this is normally accompanied by the appearance of black occipital stripes between the eye and opercle .
the genital papillae in males is longer and more pointed than of females in which it is broader and rounder .
in nuptial females the papillae becomes reddish , swollen and appears modified into an ovipositor .
this species is a biparental substrate spawner which forms temporary pair bonds when reproductively active .
observations of wild fish in sri lanka suggest that there are two such periods each year represented by the dry pre - monsoonal ( december to april ) and monsoonal ( june to september ; the monsoon season is dry in parts of sri lanka ) seasons when water salinity increases and turbidity decreases , the latter thought to benefit the fish via improved visual contact between adults and fry .
adult e . suratensis were not observed to forage during broodcare , both remaining with the eggs and subsequently fry at all times .
this allowed them to select spawning sites with better chances of fry survival whereas during peak breeding season ( july ) e . maculatus laid its eggs in sparser vegetation and exhibited colonial reproductive behaviour , seemingly a ‘trade - off’ between fry protection and food for the adults .
the benefit of the latter behaviour is that one parent would normally remain with the brood while the other left the territory to forage with the roles reversed every few minutes , thus reducing the amount of time and energy devoted to fry care by half compared with e . suratensis but increasing the risk of predation .
in the aquarium it’s recommended to purchase a group of fish and allow them to select their own partners with young fish normally sexually mature by the age of a year .
during courtship a particular site , normally a rock although even the aquarium glass will do , is selected and the surrounding area defended against intruders from that point on .
eggs are deposited in typical fashion and attached via short filaments permitting a degree of movement .
both parents participate in guarding the territory and general brood - care such as fanning and mouthing the eggs to keep them sediment - free .
incubation is approximately 48 - 72 hours depending on temperature with the fry swimming freely in a further 3 - 4 days .
prior to hatching the adults excavate a number of nursery pits in the substrate surrounding the spawning site and the fry are moved between these until their yolk sacs are absorbed .
if the fry remain with the adults they will graze on their parents’ body mucus when they are 1 - 3 days free - swimming .
parental care normally extends until the fry are 30 - 40 mm in length .
some breeders prefer to remove the eggs prior to hatching as they ‘re often eaten by tankmates or the parents themselves , with the most common method being to remove the rock with eggs attached and place it in a separate container with water from the adults’ tank .
water movement across the eggs is maintained by placing an air - line or filter outlet close to the rock while any displaying signs of fungus should be removed as they’re noticed .
once free - swimming the fry are large enough to accept artemia nauplii and similar immediately .
this species is not especially popular in the aquarium hobby but is an important food fish across the majority of its range with some populations having crashed since the turn of the 21st century due to over - exploitation .
it exhibits a widespread sympatry with the congener e . suratensis throughout its natural range and observations of wild fish provide evidence of a symbiotic relationship between the two in the tidal negombo lagoon , southwestern sri lanka .
e . maculatus acted as a cleaner for the larger e . suratensis , removing parasites and suchlike by grazing the body and fins but the nutrition these provide is considered debatable and therefore not the benefit gained from the task .
more remarkably , the advantage to e . maculatus is hypothesised to be overall health , and therefore reproductive success , of e . suratensis because it is an active predator of its relative’s offpsring .
groups of e . maculatus were seen consuming entire batches of e . suratensis eggs and fry while the latter displayed an apparently altruistic behaviour in which adult individuals unrelated to the parents would help defend the territory .
etroplus is the only cichlid genus native to the indian subcontinent and sri lanka and currently comprises three species among which e . canarensis is uniquely limited to freshwater and restricted in range while e . maculatus and e . suratensis are euryhaline and relatively widespread .
e . maculatus can easily be told apart from the others since dark markings on the body are reduced to 1 - 3 dark blotches just above midbody ( unless stressed when short bars may appear in the upper portion of the body with a solid dark posteroventral patch ) and is much paler overall , with the majority of body scales having an orange - red centre .
the remaining species both possess a series of normally 6 dark vertical bars on the body ( excluding those on the head and caudal peduncle ) but in e . canarensis the anterior 3 bars tend to bifurcate as the fish mature , base body colour is buff - grey , and some body scales have a yellowish central patch , whereas in e . suratensis the bars remain solid throughout life , base body colour is greenish - brown , and numerous body scales have a pearly - white central spot .
e . suratensis is also much the larger fish and capable of exceeding 300 mm sl .
its closest relative among other cichlids is the malagasy endemic genus paretroplus and these two are sometimes grouped together under the putative subfamily etroplinae .
they are an ancient , morphologically distinct lineage and represent the evolutionary sister group to all other cichlids ( sparks and smith , 2004 ) with several unique specialised characters ( sparks , 2001 ; stiassny et al . , 2001 ) .
these include complex paired anterior swim bladder chambers that are located within enlarged exoccipital recesses forming a direct otophysic ( mechanical ) connection between the gas bladder and inner ear , highly modified supraoccipital and exocippital bones of the neurocranium , and specialized ligaments associated with the suspensorium and oral jaws .
etroplus can be told apart from paretroplus by a number of characters including : possession of tricuspid ( vs . unicuspid in paretroplus ) teeth ; teeth present in multiple rows in both upper and lower jaws ( vs . a single row of teeth in upper and lower jaws ; teeth numerous in both upper and lower jaws ( vs . teeth few in number ( < 18 in upper jaw , < 14 in lower ) ; paired anterior gas bladder extensions rather typical and tubelike ( vs . paired anterior gas bladder extensions highly - modified with multiple anterior polyplike chambers possessing a tough and thickened tunica externa , and extremely narrow connections ( diverticula ) to the main gas bladder chamber ) ; an elevated number of anal - fin spines ; configuration of the anal - fin pterygiophore ⁄hemal spine complex ( sparks , 2001 ; stiassny et al . , 2001 ) .
bloch , m . e . , 1790 - berlin : i - xii + 1 - 128 , pls . 217 - 252 naturgeschichte der ausländischen fische v . 4 .
day , f . , 1877 - william dawson & sons , london : 369 - 552 the fishes of india ; being a natural history of the fishes known to inhabit the seas and fresh waters of india , burma , and ceylon . part 3 .
de silva , s . s . , p . maitipe , and r . t . cumaranatunge , 1984 - environmental biology of fishes 10 ( 1 - 2 ) : 77 - 87 aspects of the biology of the euryhaline asian cichlid , etroplus suratensis .
ng , t . h . and h . h . tan , 2010 - journal of fish biology 76 ( 9 ) : 2238–2260 the introduction , origin and life - history attributes of the non - native cichlid etroplus suratensis in the coastal waters of singapore .
padmakumar , k . g . , l . bindu and p . s . manu , 2012 - journal of biosciences 37 ( 1 ) supplement : 925 - 931 etroplus suratensis ( bloch ) , the state fish of kerala .
samarakoon , j . i . , 1983 - mahagasar – bulletin of the national institute of oceanography 16 : 357 - 362 breeding patterns of the indigenous cichlids etroplus suratensis and etroplus maculatus in an estuary in sri lanka .
sparks , j . s . , 2008 - bulletin of the american museum of natural history 314 : 1 - 151 phylogeny of the cichlid subfamily etroplinae and taxonomic revision of the malagasy cichlid genus paretroplus ( teleostei , cichlidae ) .
sparks , j . s . , and w . l . smith , 2004 - cladistics 20 : 501 - 517 phylogeny and biogeography of cichlid fishes ( teleostei : perciformes : cichlidae ) .
ward , j . a . and j . i . samarakoon , 1981 - environmental biology of fishes 6 ( 1 ) : 95 - 103 reproductive tactics of the asian cichlids of the genus etroplus in sri lanka .
ward , j . a . and r . l . wyman , 1977 - environmental biology of fishes 2 ( 2 ) : 137 - 145 ethology and ecology of cichlid fishes of the genus etroplus in sri lanka : preliminary findings .
welcomme , r . l . , 1988 - fao fisheries technical paper 294 : 1 - 318 international introductions of inland aquatic species .
it is native to sri lanka and possibly peninsular india , peninsular malaysia and singapore however , it is believed to have been introduced to india and malaysia for aquaculture in the early 1950s .
because of their size , they need a large aquarium of at least 100 gallon capacity with a fine sand or gravel substrate , lots of rock caves and driftwood for them to hide among , and plenty of open swimming space . they are a shoaling species and in an aquarium environment should be housed with at least 8 or more of their own kind to minimize any aggressive behavior . they become aggressive and will eat smaller tank mates when confined in a smaller sized aquarium .
once the pair select a rock or other site to lay their eggs on , they will defend the surrounding area against all intruders until the eggs are deposited . the female will deposit her eggs on the flat rocks where they are attached to the substrate with short filaments and will hatch , depending on water temperature , within 48 to 72 hours .
after the fry have hatched out , the parents will move the fry for their protection , to the “nursery pits” that they excavated around the spawning site until their egg sacs are absorbed and they become free swimming ( in about 3 to 4 days ) .
during this time , like discus , the fry remain with the adults and will graze on their parents’ body mucus until they are fully free swimming . the fry can be then be fed newly hatched baby brine shrimp , rotifers , or finely crushed flake food . both parents stay with the eggs and brood at all times until they are capable of fending for themselves .
adult etroplus suratensis are easy to feed and will accept a quality flake and pellet food as a staple diet , along with vegetable matter in the form of lettuce , spinach , peas , spirulina wafers , and fresh , frozen or freeze dried bloodworms and brine shrimp .
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usual size in fish tanks : 25 - 30 cm ( 9 . 84 - 11 . 81 inch )
recommended water hardness ( dgh ) : 12 - 26°n ( 214 . 29 - 464 . 29ppm )
rather don’t breed your fish if you don’t know what to do with fry .
if you’re about to breed some fish , get parents from different sources to avoid inbreeding .
pufferfish often look cute , however they’re predators and often kill tankmates as they mature ( there are exceptions ) .
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among mangrove roots . pasir ris park , feb 12 nibbling on mangrove roots . pasir ris park , feb 12
pearlspot ( etroplus suratensis ) from fishbase : technical fact sheet on the family , including fact sheets on the species .
backyard farm aquaculture ( ras ) vlog . . moving the fish , feed rates , ph & cycling the system . .
can only be sexed when spawning by viewing the shape of the genital papilla .
undemanding cave spawners . female lays up to 200 small eggs ( 1 - 1 . 5 mm ) inside large flower pot or similar . both parents tend the eggs .
the female secretes a mucus layer on her sides , which the fry feed on . large clutches will sometimes cause damage to mother ' s skin and scales . eventually she chases them away at a size of 10 - 12mm .
the other adults generally stay out of the way and do not molest the youngsters much as they grow , but older juveniles will sometimes eat a complete batch of eggs or fry .
this is a shoaling fish that should be kept in groups of 6 or more . smaller groups can result in the fish fighting amongst themselves . can be kept with other peaceful but robust brackish tank mates such as
feed often with diverse vegetable matter such as frozen chopped spinach , peas or grated carrot . some flake and pellet food is appropriate but minimize protein to avoid overloading the filter .
water with good filtration and aeration . salt can inhibit good filter function so plan excess capacity .
salt levels should be about 1 / 10 of normal sea - salt concentration . use only aquarium - grade sea salt and not food - grade . increased salt levels can help fight / prevent infection , but reduce filter efficiency . ones suited to complete freshwater are available .
they tend to swim in circles so tank width is important - 60cm ( 23 . 6
) x 60cm ( 23 . 6
) x 90cm ( 35 . 4
) minimum tank size for a group of six .
some references cite sizes up to 40cm ( 15 . 7
) , but even large installations such as the london aquarium include few specimens over 20cm ( 7 . 9
) .
this page was last edited on 13 december 2017 , at 02 : 49 .
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carnivorous - does well with flake or pellet foods supplimented with frozen or live worms .
other asian cichlids or loaches of similar size ; other fish with similar water parameters .
to induce breeding , put several flat rocks in the aquarium and slowly increase the salinity of your aquarium to a brackish level . once the water has become brackish , pairs will begin digging pits to use as nests . the female will lay the eggs on the flat rocks or another flat surface ) . after the fry have hatched , the parents will move them to the nesting area for protection .