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Home/Species/ Black Mantleslug

Pallifera hemphilli

(W.G. Binney, 1885)

Black Mantleslug

G4Apparently Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.107947
Element CodeIMGAS63040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderStylommatophora
FamilyPhilomycidae
GenusPallifera
Concept Reference
Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.
Conservation Status
Review Date2006-12-13
Change Date2003-07-11
Edition Date1994-03-20
Edition AuthorsWhittaker, J.C.
Range Extent250-2,500,000 square km (about 100-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of OccurrencesUnknown
Rank Reasons
The black mantleslug has a scattered and restricted habitat range. There are changes occurring that affect the ecology of this habitat. Little is known about extant populations.
Range Extent Comments
This species is typically found in the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. It is considered rare in Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia (Frest, pers. comm., 1994; Hubricht, 1985; LeGrand et al., 2006). Pilsbry (1948) indicates occurrences in Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan.
Occurrences Comments
The actual number of EO's is unknown. According to Frest (pers. comm. 1994), there are approximately 4 to 5 occurrences globally. Specimens are reported from 2 counties in southeastern Virginia. North Carolina cites occurrences in Avery, Jackson, Mitchell, Swain, and Yancey Cos. (LeGrand et al., 2006). Pilsbury (1948) reports occurrences in Georgia and Michigan (Ontonagon Co. and Ann Arbor). In New York, Hotopp and Pearce (2007) report it from Hamilton and Herkimer Cos. (FMNH spms.), but these records have not been confirmed.
Threat Impact Comments
This species may be seriously impacted by ecological perturbations occurring in high elevation spruce-fir forests. Food sources of this slug may also be effected by ecological changes. Since this species lacks a shell, it is apparently vulnerable to adverse edaphic or climatic conditions (Scientific council on freshwater and terrestrial mollusks 1990).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

A species of high elevation, wet spruce-fir forests. It is more active at night, but during the day, can be found hiding under exfoliating bark and rotting logs in advanced stages of decay; also found climbing tree (Dourson 2013, Hubricht 1985). Pilsbury (1948, citing Adams 1906), however, indicated a less restrictive habitat with occurrences as low as 0.5 m in Michigan.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Conifer
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS2Yes
VirginiaS1Yes
North CarolinaS2Yes
IndianaSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
Roadless Areas (4)
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
References (11)
  1. Adams, C.C. 1906. An ecological survey in northern Michigan. University Museum, University of Michigan: Lansing, Michigan. 133 pp.
  2. Branson, B.A. 1959. Notes on Oklahoma slugs, with additions to the previously known fauna. The Southwestern Naturalist 4(3):143-147.
  3. Dourson, D.C. 2013. Land snails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and southern Appalachians. Goatslug Publications, Bakersville, NC. 336 pp.
  4. Felix, Z. I., M. A. Dubuc, and H. A. Rana. 2019. A tentative list of the land snails of Georgia, U.S.A. Georgia Journal of Science 77(2), Article 8. Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol77/iss2/8
  5. Frest, Terry. Deixis Consultants. Seattle, Washington
  6. Hotopp, K. and T.A. Pearce. 2007. Land snails in New York: statewide distribution and talus site faunas. Final Report for contract #NYHER 041129 submitted to New York State Biodiversity Research Institute, New York State Museum, Albany, New York. 91 pp.
  7. Hubricht, L. 1985. The distribution of the native land mollusks of the eastern United States. Fieldiana: Zoology 24:1-191.
  8. LeGrand, H.E., Jr., S.P. Hall, S.E. McRae, and J.T. Finnegan. 2006. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animal Species of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh, North Carolina. 104 pp.
  9. Pilsbry, H.A. 1948. Land Mollusca of North America (north of Mexico). Monograph of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 2(2): 521-1113.
  10. Scientific Council on Freshwater and Terrestrial Mollusks, W.F. Adams (ed.). 1990. A report on the conservation status of North Carolina freshwater and terrestrial molluscan fauna. Report to Non-game and Endangered Wildlife program, Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, NC.
  11. Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.