Slug (Black)

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:30:04 +0000

The Black Slug is a mollusc also known as the Large Black Slug and the European Black Slug. It is usually black, but sometimes it can be a brownish orange colour. It is coated with thick slimy mucus to stop it from drying out and this mucus is quite difficult to wash off if it a person comes in contact with it.

The Black Slug can stretch its body out to a length of ten to fifteen centimetres and when it feels threatened, it can close its body up to nearly the shape of a ball. The front part of its body is smooth-looking and the rest of its body is covered with knobbly-looking vertical lines. It has a round breathing hole on the right-hand side of its body and a black fringe around the bottom of its body. It also has two tentacles at the front of its head to help the slug to find its way in the dark.

Black Slugs usually hide under soil or debris in the day, but they may come out on wet days. They can normally be seen at night when they go looking for food such as plants, vegetables, dead animals and even dog poo! The Black Slug moves around by using a large muscular foot underneath its body and as it moves it secretes mucus. Trails of mucus can often be seen and Black Slugs often use the same mucus trails to find favourite food spots.

Slug (Common Garden)

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:31:00 +0000

The Common Garden Slug is a mollusc that is often found in parks and gardens and this is why it has the name ‘Garden Slug’. It is a greyish colour with a bluish black head. It is coated with orange-coloured slimy mucus to stop it from drying out and this mucus is quite difficult to wash off if a person comes in contact with it.

The Common Garden Slug is a small slug with a body length of around three to four centimetres. The front part of its back is smooth-looking and slightly raised and it has a round breathing hole on the right-hand side. The rest of its body is covered with knobbly-looking vertical lines. It has a faint yellowish stripe running down the length of its back and a faint yellowish stripe on each side of its body. The two tentacles on the front of its head help the slug to find its way in the dark.

Common Garden Slugs hide under stones, logs and debris during the day, but they may come out on wet days. They are normally seen at night when they go looking for food such as plants, vegetables, fruit, tubers and bulbs. The Common Garden Slug moves around by using a large muscular foot underneath its body and as it move it secretes mucus. Trails of mucus can often be seen and Common Garden Slugs often use the same mucus trails to find favourite food spots.

Land Molluscs

Slug (Black)

Slug (Common Garden)