Comments on: What is this creature or creatures?

Question: What is this creature or creatures?

macinchik — Wed, 24 May 2006 19:45:19 -0800

What is this slimy little critter?

I found this tableau on the sidewalk during a walk around the neighborhood this evening. Sorry there's no scale. It was about 2 inches long. I am assuming it is a slug feeding on the remains of a worm. However, the worm part looked like it was still moving -- I didn't know slugs were predatory of other animals. Also, where are its head antennas? Is it ailing as well as the worm? What kind of slug is it?

By: tellurian

tellurian — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:08:26 -0800

It looks like a Spanish or Brown Slug.

By: cyrusdogstar

cyrusdogstar — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:08:58 -0800

According to "The Wiki", some slugs are predatory, and it certainly looks like a slug to me (but yea, the lack of antennae is a little odd--my guess is that they're retracted somehow? I doubt it could even find its prey without them, so I doubt it's lost them).

However, my background is compsci and not biology, so I could theoretically be incorrect.

By: cyrusdogstar

cyrusdogstar — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:09:38 -0800

And yea, from looking at the extra slug related pages on Wikipedia, it looks a lot like the Spanish slug, as tellurian says.

By: acoutu

acoutu — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:10:59 -0800

I think the slug is eating a worm. Sounds somewhat common.

I also found a few hits for "slug eat worm".

By: tellurian

tellurian — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:15:33 -0800

And yes, they're carnivorous.

By: cenoxo

cenoxo — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:16:25 -0800

Brown Slug photo. On yours, the head is to the left, but it's turned under with the optic and sensory tentacles retracted.

By: tomble

tomble — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:26:00 -0800

I should not have clicked on that link whilst eating a bowl of stew.

By: macinchik

macinchik — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:33:31 -0800

Heheheh, sorry tomble. All these answers are terrific. Thanks!

By: cenoxo

cenoxo — Wed, 24 May 2006 20:38:13 -0800

Compare this photo (sublink via Tellurian's carnivorous link above): you can see the slug's head & tentacles partially withdrawn under its mantle.

By: aubilenon

aubilenon — Wed, 24 May 2006 21:25:34 -0800

cyrusdogstar, slugs do not have antennae (which are tactile), they have ommatophores (my favorite word)!

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Wed, 24 May 2006 22:40:12 -0800

slugs and snails are attracted to slug/snail/worm slime.

Once when I had a bad infestation, I would go out at night and toss slugs and snails on a patio and stomp them.

The next night I would go out and on the patio there would lots of live slugs and snails feasting on the slime. Stomp and repeat.

By: cyrusdogstar

cyrusdogstar — Thu, 25 May 2006 05:46:51 -0800

aubilenon, I have to agree, ommatophore is a pretty cool word. Thanks for the correction!

Like I said, compsci, not biology :D

By: spakto

spakto — Thu, 25 May 2006 11:25:21 -0800

Please pass the salt.

By: trinity8-director

trinity8-director — Thu, 25 May 2006 12:56:39 -0800

Two inches? Pikers! You should (or maybe not?) see the monsters that grow in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. I've seen 10'-12' versions.

By: trinity8-director

trinity8-director — Thu, 25 May 2006 12:57:22 -0800

Er, make that 10"-12". Geez, those would be monsters!