
The slug's teeth are about half a mm long and blade-like
"We had to thumb through lots of old publications in Russian and German to find anything
like them - but then discovered they were something entirely new."
After studying the slug's anatomy, the scientists realised it was an undescribed
species and christened the creature with the name adapted from the Welsh word
for ghost, ysbryd.
Mr Rowson said: "Selenochlamys ysbryda seemed appropriate
for this spooky, nocturnal hunter and indicates where it was first found. We
think this is the first time a Welsh word has been used in an animal's
scientific name."
Bill Symondson, an ecologist at Cardiff University, also
studied the slug.
He said: "The lack of eyes and body colour could indicate
the species evolved in a cave system.
"It was probably introduced to Britain in plant pots, making it an 'alien' species, although we can't be certain.
"We're concerned that it might become a pest, but we need to find out more
about it first."
The museum has produced a simple identification guide available from its website to help monitor the slug's spread.
Great. Freaking great. I can't handle this, not at this time in the morning.
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