Friday, June 10, 2011

Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)

Some time ago I received a request for a photo of a slug. I don't know how common these animals are in other parts of the world but we have some very large ones here. Those pictured in this post (Pacific Banana Slugs [Ariolimax columbianus]) are one of the largest varieties in the world, reaching lengths of nearly 10 inches (25 centimeters). They also, despite their close relationship to snails, move quite rapidly - up to about 6 inches (16.5 centimeters) per minute. This plus their penchant for lurking in damp cool dark places makes them a bit of a challenge to photograph. Usually, if they're not moving they tuck those interesting looking antennae out of sight as in the photo below.

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