Ibycus rachelae

Ibycus Rachelae also called long-tailed slug or Ninja Slug, is a species of air-breathing semi-slugs in the family Helicarionidae.[1][2]

Ibycus rachelae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Superphylum:
Lophotrochozoa
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Subclass:
Pulmonata
Order:
Stylommatophora
Family:
Helicarionidae
Subfamily:
Durgellinae
Tribe:
Durgellini
Genus:
Ibycus
Species:
I. rachelae
Binomial name
Ibycus rachelae
Schilthuizen & Liew, 2008

The common name ninja slug is a result of the ability of the animal to fire "love darts", consisting of calcium carbonate harpoons, at potential mates in order to inject them with hormones. The discoverers initially intended to name the species I. felis from its habit of curling its tail around its neck which looked to them reminiscent of a sleeping cat. But after the love dart behaviour was noticed, they named it I. rachelae instead after Menno Schilthuizen's girlfriend.[2]

I. rachelae is one of well over a hundred new species discovered in Borneo since 2007 and announced in a 2010 World Wide Fund for Nature report.[2]

References
  1. "Malak. Bl., 10". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 12 Jan 2021.
  2. Bryner, Jeanna (21 April 2010). "World's Longest Bug And 'Ninja' Slug Discovered in Borneo". livescience. Retrieved 12 Jan 2021.
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