Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Scarletback Taildropper
Prophysaon vanattae
Prophysaon
vanattae
A member of the family Arionidae (“roundback slugs”), this species is also referred to as “scarlet-mantled” taildropper. Prophysaon or “taildropper” slugs are “pulmonate” (air breathing through an internalized lung-like structure), terrestrial mollusks. Species in this genus are capable of “autotomy” (self-amputation) of a portion of their caudal area (tail), a mechanism to confuse or elude predators. The amputated tail portion may regenerate later.
Length 2.5 to 5 cm. Terrestrial slugs can be quite variable in colour and patterning. Generally, scarletback taildropper is reddish in colour (especially dorsally – but not always), grey-buff along the sides, with two conspicuous dark bands running laterally from the mantle to the tail. These bands define a wedge-shaped lighter dorsal area which may enclose a (sometimes faint), dark dorsal stripe at midline. The sole (bottom of foot), is usually cream colored but can be grey. The pneumostome (pore used for air breathing) is located at or in front of the midline of the mantle covering the right side. The tail often has oblique constrictions (not always), that mark the area where autotomy has occurred. A mucus pore usually found on the tail area of other slugs is absent.
Download Species Fact Sheet in PDF
Status
Global Status:
G4G5
Provincial Status:
S4S5
BC List Status:
Yellow (Not at risk of extinction)
RESOURCES
For further information see:
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC. From here connect to all provincial and federal recovery plans (including the SARA Registry), COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), Identified Wildlife guidance and conservation requirements for specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern impacted by forestry activities) and links to E-Flora and E-Fauna (the Electronic Atlas of the Plants and Wildlife of British Columbia).
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
SHARE
