Family: Philomycidae
Common name: Dusky Mantleslug, Kentucky Mantleslug
Discovery: Branson, 1968
Identification
Length: 50-80 mm
As is characteristic of its family, the entire upper surface of Philomycus batchi is covered by the mantle. The body is black to dark gray or brown with profuse black “punctae” and a mottling of white spots on the sides, becoming notably white at the anterior edge. Sometimes, a faint black longitudinal line is on each side of the body. The breathing pore has a white edge and a gray streak below. The body under the mantle is yellowish, and the sole is white (Branson, 1968). Mucus produced when disturbed is yellow to orange (Dourson, 2010).
Philomycus batchi is similar to P. flexuolaris, but its markings are black instead of brown, and it lacks longitudinal stripes (Branson 1968).
Ecology
This species is found along river floodplains and hillsides. It takes shelter under rotting logs and tree bark (Branson, 1968; Dourson, 2010).
Taxonomy
The original description used mixed species, which Fairbanks (1998) corrected by describing the internal anatomy of specimens from the type locality. There are no synonyms.
Distribution
The species is restricted to a small region along the border between southeast West Virginia (Summers County) and western Virginia (Dickenson County), with additional populations in eastern Kentucky (Dourson, 2010).
Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G1.
This narrow endemic is known from only a few central Appalachian Mountain counties.
