Ariostralis nebulosa | |
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Black-and-white photo of a live individual of A. nebulosa | |
Scientific classification | |
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(unranked): | clade
Heterobranchia
clade
Euthyneura |
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Species: | A. nebulosa
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Binomial name | |
Ariostralis nebulosa Sirgel, 1985
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Ariostralis nebulosa is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial, pulmonate, gastropod mollusk in the family Oopeltidae.
This is a species of non-marine mollusc found in South Africa only. [1]
A. nebulosa is readily found throughout the whole year. [1]
A. nebulosa serves as the first intermediate host for a parasite, the brachylaimid trematode Renylaima capensis. [1] Branched, cercariogenous sporocysts of this parasite massively develop in A. nebulosa. [1] These sporocysts are attached to the hepatopancreas, body wall, pallial floor and even to the genital system. [1] This fluke is highly specific at the first intermediate host level. [1]
The forest shrew (Myosorex varius) is a predator of A. nebulosa. [1] There is a possible direct infection of the shrew by the cercariae of R. capensis.