Another slug I.D.

[2dogs2000]

Not many insects about but I can still find a few slugs to photograph.

Can anyone I.D. this for me? I know there are two but it was the big one I was interested in.

[NickCantle]

When you're out of insects, hunt down the molluscs

Looks like a Leopard slug

Nick

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

When you're out of insects, hunt down the molluscs

Looks like a Leopard slug

Nick

I'd go for that too!

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

When you're out of insects, hunt down the molluscs

Looks like a Leopard slug

Nick

Now I am confused.

I have a photo of a leopard slug and when you compare the two they are quite different.
This is my photo of a Leopard slug.


Is there a lot of variation in this species?

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

apparently they are very variable, you can even get ones that are un-spotted on the main body.

neil

[2dogs2000]

As I have said I am now confused.

I am not doubting the experts on here but can you tell me why my first image is a leopard slug and not a yellow slug - Limax flavus?
What points to it being one and not the other?

I have tried to identify it on the web and to me it looks very much like the photo on Wikipedia.

[NickCantle]

Whoa, steady on, i'm no slug expert. I just suggested what I thought it was through what I've seen

Nick

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Whoa, steady on, i'm no slug expert. I just suggested what I thought it was through what I've seen

Nick

Don't panic Nick.

Slugs are a totally new area for me and I am grateful for all suggestions.

You said it looks like one. Aeshna5 agreed with you.

Anyone that makes a suggestion on slugs is an expert compared to me.

[Ferret]

Hi 2dogs200
First I would like to point out that I am no expert on slugs but I do have a couple of books, admittedly rather old books, and here are a few things that they say:-

Yellow Slug Limax Flavus, medium-large with rather stumpy “tail” and smooth tubercles; respiratory pore encircled by a pale elevated ring; keel blunt, less than half the length of back. Adult apparently yellowish to dark orange or greenish, suffused with grey or dusky; mantle-shield dark yellowish-green, spotted or mottled with yellow; yellow spots on body, but never dark bands; head greenish, tentacles cold steel blue; mucus yellow, which accounts for much of apparent colour of basically grey animal.

Great Grey or Leopard Slug Limax maximus, 48 longitudinal rows of long elliptical tubercles, whose points interdigitate at either end; the mantle-shield, rounded and free anteriorly , pointed posteriorly, occupies about one-third of the body length; the posterior one-third of the back is keeled. Adult pale grey to whitish, grey-brown or dark grey, but never black; mantle-shield dark-spotted or marbled; 2-3 dark longitudinal bands or rows of spots on either side (rarely absent); mucus colourless.

To me on the tubercle shape and pattern, mantle shape, pale ring around repertory pore and colour make me to believe this is a Yellow Slug.

Hope this all helps and hope I am right, but im perfectly willing to be corrected if there are any mollusc experts out there.

[bugbotherer]

Amongst many of the traits listed for Limax flavus the one about the pale ring around the pneumostome (respiratory opening) is the clincher. Great to see the shot with the pore open. Sometimes with the big slugs you get mites exiting the pore and scampering over the slugs body.