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Project Noah Nature School
Limax maximus
One of the largest kinds of keeled air-breathing land slug in the world. This specimen was about 10cm (4") long. The adult slug measures 10-20 cm (4-8 in) in length and is generally a light greyish or grey-brown with darker spots and blotches, although the coloration and exact patterning of the body of this slug species is quite variable.
Although native to Europe, this species has been accidentally introduced to many other parts of the world.
I went about 2km down the road from my house at 10pm to a semi wild area along the Chippawa creek. I spotted 2 leopard slugs low on the trunk of a large tree. Later on I found one on a rock, then another crossing the trail and 2 more smaller ones near the water. I came back to check on the pair on the tree trunk and was amazed to find them hanging from the tree by their own mucous body string type thing mating, as seen in the last 2 photos.
Spotted on Jul 23, 2011
Submitted on Jul 24, 2011
11 Comments
Amazing pictures and great information! What incredible creatures.
interesting!
If it has the spots but is just smaller, I would say it is the same species.
Thanks, these slugs are really interesting.
What a simultaneously fascinating and disturbing display. Great shots of nature in action!
Awesome find, & photos, Dan!
love the spots))))))
Thanks! monkey-mind and nana-puppet, I didn't know that. I was just reading more about these and thought I would add this interesting info.
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.
wow dan! you got a pretty good shot. the last two ones show the copulation! and a nice fact to know, that both are hermaphrodites
I loved it. :)
slightly more attractive than my brown slug :D
Great shots again, Dan.