Revised distribution and habitat associations for the protected slug Geomalacus maculosus (Gastropoda, Arionidae) in Ireland

The arionid slug Geomalacus maculosus is restricted globally to Ireland and northern Iberia and the species is protected under both European and Irish legislation. Surveys in Cos Cork, Kerry and Galway in Ireland during 2009 and 2010 recorded the species from a total of 43 hectads (10km grid squares) and from a range of habitats including deciduous forest, blanket bog and heath. We also found G. maculosus in conifer plantations and clearfell sites in seven hectads in Cos Cork, Kerry and Galway, and on wet grassland in Co. Kerry. The species requirement for nearby standing or flowing water was not supported by our sampling as we collected it from areas where there were no obvious waterbodies. Nevertheless, the above data comprise a range of 4300km2 in the three counties and include three hectads (V55, V64 and V72) where the last records are pre-1970. In addition, G. maculosus was found in six hectads (Q91, V48, V82, V93, V94 and V97) where there are no previous records of the species.