About Philomycus carolinianus (Bosc, 1802)
Philomycus carolinianus, commonly known as the Carolina mantleslug, is a species of land slug. It is a terrestrial gastropod mollusk that belongs to the family Philomycidae. This species is part of the native fauna of the Carolinian Forest in Canada, and it plays a vital role in ecosystem function through nutrient cycling. The Carolina mantleslug is very common in swamps along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of North America, as well as in floodplain woods in the continent’s interior and piedmont regions. It prefers moist, low-lit deciduous woodland habitats. Unlike most slug species, the Carolina mantleslug does not invade gardens. It is most often found in heavily wooded areas, but it will occasionally forage out in the open, and can also be active during cloudy conditions. Confirmed populations of this species have been recorded in the U.S. states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. It is also native to Canada, where it occurs specifically in the Ontario region.
