A New Philomycus Mantleslug Species from Texas and a Key to US Philomycus Species

Abstract

A new species of Philomycus mantleslug from eastern Texas, USA, is described. Philomycus texanus Taber and Fleenor is distinguished from the remaining eight currently recognized Nearctic Philomycus species by its internal reproductive anatomy and by its external coloration. It is currently known only from the relict Lost Pines loblolly forest, which is a post-ice age refugium for a variety of animal and plant species not expected to occur so far west of the southeastern United States. A key to the nine recognized species of the genus is provided.