About Himantarium gabrielis Linnaeus, 1767
Himantarium gabrielis can reach a length of about 13–22 cm (5.1–8.7 in). It has a small head that lacks eyes, and features two tentacles with 14 segments. On the dorsal side of its last trunk segment, there are wide longitudinal and transversal sulci that resemble a cross. Its body ranges in colour from yellowish to orange, with a pinkish to red stripe along its lower side, and can have up to 179 segments, each bearing one pair of legs. The total number of legs is highly variable: leg-bearing segments typically number from 87 to 171 in males, and from 95 to 179 in females. When disturbed, this species releases viscous, proteinaceous secretions from its sternal glands. It feeds on a variety of invertebrates, and can be found under stones or in underground galleries. Females protect their eggs with their bodies until the young hatch. This species is widely distributed across the Mediterranean region, and has been recorded in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
