Leopard Slug

Description:

The body length of adults of this slug species is 10-20 cm (4-8 in).[3] The greater part of the body is rounded, but there is a short keel on its tail, with about 48 longitudinal rows of elongate, detached tubercles.[4] The animal's body color is pale-grey, ash-colored, brownish or sometimes yellowish-white. The body is longitudinally streaked or spotted with black. The shield is always black-spotted. The sole of the foot is ash or yellowish-ash colored, and the color is always uniform.[5] The foot-fringe is pale, with a row of minute submarginal blackish tubercles.[4] Every Limax maximus differs slightly in its pattern of black spots. The tentacles are very long and slender.[4] The reproductive pore is near the base of the right upper tentacle.[6] The shield is oblong, about one-third of the total length of the animal. The shield is rounded in front, angular behind, and forming an angle of about 80 degrees when in motion, usually of a similar tint to the body, but boldly marbled or maculate with black, somewhat concentrically and interruptedly ridged around a sub-posterior nucleus.[4] The pneumostome is just posterior to the mid-point of the mantle, as it is in all Limacidae. The mucus is colorless and iridescent, and not very adhesive

Habitat:

The slugs are almost always found near human habitation — usually in lawns, gardens, cellars or in other damp areas. This species is not gregarious. It frequents gardens, damp and shady hedgerows and woods, hiding during the day beneath stones, under fallen trees, or other obscure and damp places. It does however exhibit a decided preference for the vicinity of human habitations, and readily takes up its abode in damp cellars or outbuildings.[4] In Ireland, this predilection for human dwellings is not exhibited, and the species is restricted to woods and other similar places. It may even be met with almost within high-water mark on the seashore.[4] Feeding habits Limax maximus is omnivorous. It is of benefit as a detrivore for it cleans up dead plants and fungi,[4] and as a carnivore for it hunts down other slugs with its top speed of 6 in/min.[18] However it is also eats young crops faster than they can grow and so is listed as a major agricultural pest by State Departments of Agriculture from Florida[19] to Oregon.[20] Life cycle Limax maximus with its cluster of eggs under a wooden board The eggs of this slug are deposited in a cluster, slightly attached to each other.[8] Eggs are transparent, elastic and slightly yellowish in color.[6] The size of the egg is 6×4.5 mm.[21][22] They hatch in about a month.[4] The tiny slugs which emerge from the eggs need at least two years to reach sexual maturity.[23] The lifespan of Limax maximus is 2.5–3 years.[24] Mating The mating habits of Limax maximus are considered unusual among slugs: the hermaphrodite slugs court, usually for hours, by circling and licking each other. After this, the slugs will climb into a tree or other high area and then, entwined together, lower themselves on a thick string of mucus, evert their white translucent mating organs (penises) from their gonopores (openings on the right side of the head), entwine these organs, and exchange sperm. Both participants will later lay hundreds of eggs. A commonly seen practice among many slugs is apophallation, when one or both of the slugs chews off the other's penis. The penis of these species is curled like a corkscrew and often becomes entangled in their mate's genitalia in the process of exchanging sperm. When all else fails, apophallation allows the slugs to separate themselves. Once its penis has been removed, a slug is still able to participate in mating subsequently, but only using the female parts of its reproductive system.

Notes:

This species has a very unusual and distinctive mating method, where the pair of slugs use a thick thread of mucus to hang suspended in the air from a tree branch or other structure. Although native to Europe, this species has been accidentally introduced to many other parts of the world. This slug species has been introduced to North America. It occurs along the East and the West Coasts of that continent. Its introduction into the United States was first announced by George Washington Tryon in 1867, when it was discovered in cellars in Philadelphia. Within a few years its presence was noticed at Newport, Rhode Island, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, etc., and it has now become rather numerous in some localities