Arion vulgaris (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Arionidae) – a new alien species in the fauna of Donbass

Abstract

The first anatomically confirmed record of the Western European mollusk Arion vulgaris Moquin-Tandon, 1855 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Arionidae) in the territory of Donbass is described. The species was found in the central city park of Donetsk. Adults were rufous (from grayish rufous to bright orange) or brown in color without dark lateral bands or traces of them. The color of the soles of subadult and adults was from cream to dark gray, regardless of body color, individuals with light gray uniformly colored (39.4%) and cream (35.2%) soles dominated. Egg laying was recorded in September-October. Eggs, juveniles hatched from eggs, subadult and adult hibernate. Some individuals have a lifespan of more than one year. Over the five-year observation period, the area of the colony did not increase and is 0.325 ha, that indicates a low invasive potential of the species in the steppe zone. The distribution of A. vulgaris in the Donbass is likely to be limited to local colonies in populated areas, however, anthropochore invasion of the species into the ravine and fl oodplain forests of the region is possible.