Distribution
Geomalacus maculosus has what is known as a disjunct distribution (in other words, it occurs in discontinuous locations). It is found only in southwestern Ireland, north-west Spain, and from central Portugal to northern Portugal. The presence of this slug in southwest Ireland seems anomalous, but a similar occurrence has been observed in a few other species of animals and plants; this type of disjunct distribution (in Iberia and in Ireland without any intermediate localities) is known as "Lusitanian". It is possible that genetic research will throw light more light on the Kerry slug in the context of the postglacial colonisation of Ireland. There has been speculation that the slug was introduced from Iberia by prehistoric humans, as appears to have happened in the case of the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew.
Read more about this topic: Kerry Slug
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