Banana slug
Two banana slugs preparing to mate
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Stylommatophora
Superfamily: Arionoidea
Family: Ariolimacidae
Subfamily: Ariolimacinae
Genus: Ariolimax
Mörch, 1859
Type species
Ariolimax columbianus
Synonyms

Aphallarion Pilsbry & Vanatta, 1896

Anatomy of a slug

Banana slugs (Ariolimax) is a genus of North American terrestrial slugs in the family Ariolimacidae.[1]

They are often bright yellow (giving rise to the "banana" common name) although they may also be greenish, brown, tan, or white.

Species

Species within the genus Ariolimax include:

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistributionDescription
Ariolimax buttoni (Pilsbry & Vanatta, 1896)Button's Banana SlugCaliforniaSingle spot on the mantle
Ariolimax californicus californicus J. G. Cooper, 1872California Banana Slug[2]California, OregonLight yellow, Length 175–200mm
Ariolimax columbianus Gould, 1851Pacific Banana Slug[2]United States (Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington), Canada (British Columbia)Olive green with black spots and blotches, Length 185–260mm
Ariolimax dolichophallus Mead, 1943Slender Banana Slug[2][3][4]Coastal Central CaliforniaLight yellow, Length 150–180mm
Ariolimax stramineus Hemphill, 1891Southern Pacific Banana SlugSanta Barbara

Synonyms:

  • Ariolimax andersonii J. G. Cooper, 1872: synonym of Prophysaon andersonii (J.G. Cooper, 1872) (unaccepted combination)
  • Ariolimax californicus J.G. Cooper, 1872: synonym of Ariolimax californicus californicus J.G. Cooper, 1872
  • Ariolimax californicus costaricensis Cockerell, 1890: synonym of Deroceras costaricensis (Cockerell, 1890)
  • Ariolimax hemphilli W. G. Binney, 1875: synonym of Hesperarion hemphilli (W.G. Binney, 1875)
  • Ariolimax niger J. G. Cooper, 1872: synonym of Hesperarion niger (J. G. Cooper, 1872)
  • Ariolimax steindachneri Babor, 1900: synonym of Ariolimax columbianus (Gould, 1851)

Description

Head, optic tentacles, and sensory tentacles of a banana slug
Slender banana slug (Ariolimax dolichophallus)

Banana slugs are often bright yellow (giving rise to the banana nomenclature) although they may also be greenish, brown, tan, or white. The species Ariolimax columbianus sometimes has black spots that are so extensive that the animal looks almost entirely black. Individual slugs will change colors with alterations in food consumption, light exposure, and moisture levels. Color may also indicate whether a slug is healthy or injured or what age it is.[5]

The Pacific banana slug is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world, growing up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long,[6] and weights of 115 grams (4.1 ounces).[7] (The largest slug species is Limax cinereoniger of Europe, which can reach 30 centimetres (12 in) in length.) Banana slugs have an average lifespan of 1–7 years.[5]

Banana slugs (like other gastropods and many other mollusks) have a radula, a ribbon-like anatomical structure covered in rows of microscopic teeth; the radula is used for feeding.[8] Individuals can move at 6+1⁄2 inches (17 cm) per minute.[9]

Slugs use two pairs of tentacles to sense their environment. The larger, upper pair, termed "eyestalks," are used to detect light or movement. The second, lower pair are used to detect chemicals. The tentacles can retract and extend themselves to avoid damage. If a predator bites off a tentacle, the slug can grow a new one.[10]

Banana slugs have a single lung (on the right side) which opens externally via a pneumostome. The pneumostome lung cavity is heavily vascularized to allow gas exchange. Dehydration is a major problem for the mollusk; to combat this, banana slugs excrete a thick coating of mucus around their bodies and can also aestivate. To do so, they secrete a protective layer of mucus and insulate themselves with a layer of soil and leaves. They remain inactive in this state until the environment becomes moist again. Due to their susceptibility to desiccation, they are more commonly active at night, but also appear during cool, moist days.[11]

This individual Ariolimax columbianus has numerous black spots. The patterning may be so extensive as to make the animal look almost solid black. Banana slugs have a single lung which opens externally via a pneumostome. The placement of the pneumostome on the mantle helps to distinguish the species of Ariolimax.

The slime also contains pheromones to attract other slugs for mating. Slugs are simultaneous hermaphrodites,[12] and reproduce by exchanging sperm with their mate. They produce up to 75 translucent eggs, which are laid in a log or on leaves. Slugs mate and lay eggs throughout the year. The adults provide no further care for their eggs beyond finding a suitable hiding spot, and the eggs are abandoned as soon as the clutch is laid.[13]

Distribution

Ariolimax columbianus is native to the forest floors along North America's Pacific coastal coniferous rainforest belt (including douglas-fir forests and redwood forests) which stretches from Southeastern Alaska to Santa Cruz, California.

Several discontinuous populations also occur in forested slopes of the coastal and transverse mountain ranges south of Santa Cruz as far south as Ventura County, with a tiny, isolated population located in Palomar Mountain State Park within the Palomar Mountain Range in San Diego County, California. The Palomar Mountains have lush Sierra Nevada-like coniferous forests and black oak woodlands unlike the surrounding semiarid lands of inland San Diego County and mark the southernmost population of banana slugs.

Small, isolated populations also occur east of the Pacific Coast such as in the inland coniferous rainforests of British Columbia's Columbia Mountains (interior wet-belt), just west of the Canadian Rockies, and have been seen at lower elevations near creeks and damp areas of Mount Revelstoke National Park. Small populations of banana slugs have also been seen along creek and damp areas of the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the north of Yosemite National Park in California. Slug densities in these outlying areas in the Columbia Mountains, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and areas south of Santa Cruz are low compared to densities in the coastal coniferous rainforest belt and are rather restricted to damp areas near creeks, ravines, and gullies.[14] This population may also be a relic from the Pleistocene epoch.

Ecology

A banana slug eating a small plant in Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Banana slugs are detritivores, or decomposers. They process leaves, animal droppings, moss, and dead plant material, and then recycle them into soil humus.[15][16] They are generalist feeders, though they exhibit a preference for mushrooms.[17] Through their consumption of various plant matter and animal excretion, banana slugs acts as agents of seed dispersal, in turn effecting seed survival, deposition, and germination rates.[18] They spread seeds and spores when they eat, and excrete a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.[19] Additionally, by consuming detritus (dead organic matter) slugs contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles[20] and are an important aspect of the ecosystem.

Raccoons, garter snakes, ducks, geese and salamanders sometimes eat banana slugs; they roll the slugs in soil to bind the slime. Juvenile banana slugs are sometimes eaten by moles or shrews. However, their slime has a numbing effect when predators attempt to consume them, effecting whatever moist surface it touches.[21]

Slime

The mucus secreted by banana slugs contains chemicals that can numb the tongue of predators.[19][22] This mucus can absorb up to 100 times its volume in water.[23] Technically, this slime is neither liquid nor solid, but rather a liquid crystal substance.[24] Slug slime bears a resemblance to human mucus, primarily composed of proteins known as mucins.[25] Upon contact with environmental moisture, dry mucin granules swell dramatically, expanding to hundreds of times their original volume.[26] This expansion contributes to the slimy texture but doesn't involve the numbing effect seen in banana slugs. Moreover, the slime serves the purpose of maintaining moisture on the skin of these slug-like creatures, akin to fruit, which facilitates gas exchange to support respiration. The glycoprotein-based mucous behaves as a liquid crystal, occupying a unique state between a solid and a liquid. Its molecular dispersion prevents it from being a true liquid, yet it lacks the compactness of a solid, displaying an organized, crystal-like pattern.

This mucous secretion serves a multitude of purposes in the life of a banana slug. It aids in locomotion, allowing them to glide gracefully across the forest floor.[22] The slime also serves as a protective barrier, acting as a deterrent against potential predators and pathogens. Additionally, banana slug slime plays a role in reproduction, as slugs deposit chemical cues within the slime to attract potential mates.[12] The slime's vivid yellow color, which is responsible for their common name, not only adds to their eccentric appearance but also acts as a warning signal to potential predators that it may not be a tasty meal. Banana slug’s mucus has potential to carry mites and other parasitic organisms.[27]

Reproduction

The mating dance of two banana slugs.

Banana slugs are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. This feature allows them to mate as either sex or even fertilize themselves.[28] The versatile slime also plays a role in their mating rituals. During the mating phase, banana slugs release pheromones through their adhesive trails to attract potential partners.[29] Due to a slug's ability for self-fertilization, there is a high degree of homozygosity. Notably, their courtship process can be quite robust and, in certain species, may culminate in apophallation.[30] During the mating ritual between two slugs, they both engage in a dance-like action where they will circle each other, occasionally lunging, nipping, and tail whipping.[31]  University of California, Santa Cruz research associate Janet Leonard notes that apophallation occurs some time after copulation, and the process of chewing takes around 45 minutes, but can take longer.[27]  After mating, the slugs separate and seek a sheltered location to lay their eggs. An impregnated slug will typically lay a range of 3 to 50 eggs in a small crevice. These eggs will typically hatch within a month or two, and the young slugs will mature over several months. Their offspring will typically contain a pale white hue and as they grow acquire their distinct yellow color.

In culture

Banana slugs have been used as food by Yurok Natives of the North Coast and by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A yearly festival and contest is held at Russian River including slug races and a contest for recipes – though, even when fed corn meal to purge them or soaked in vinegar to remove slime, the slugs' flavor is not always well regarded for the modern palate, and the most successful entries are often those in which the flavor is unnoticeable.[32][33]

University of California, Santa Cruz's logo

The banana slug (specifically Ariolimax dolichophallus, which is the most common banana slug on campus) is the mascot of the University of California, Santa Cruz. It is common in local forests, was approved by a student vote, and has won awards. The “Every Little Thing” podcast also dedicated half an episode to discussing the banana slug and its historical relevance to the UCSC.[34] After celebrating 25 years of the establishment of the banana slug as UCSC’s mascot, on Sept. 27, 2011, the Santa Cruz City Council declared that day as the official “Day of the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slug.”[35] One T-shirt caption was: "No known predators!"[36]

References

  • Schad, Jerry (1998), Afoot & Afield in San Diego County, Wilderness Press

Footnotes

  1. ↑ MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Ariolimax Mörch, 1859. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=995725 on 2021-08-25
  2. 1 2 3 Turgeon, D. D.; A. E. Bogan; E. V. Coan; W. K. Emerson; W. G. Lyons; W. Pratt; et al. (1988). Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: molluscs. Special Publications. American Fisheries Society. p. 277.
  3. ↑ ITIS Standard Report Page Ariolimax dolichophallus Mead, 1943, Integrated Taxonomic Information System - United States Government
  4. ↑ Mead, Albert R. (1943). "Revision of the Giant West Coast Land Slugs of the Genus Ariolimax Moerch (Pulmonata: Arionidae)". American Midland Naturalist. 30 (3): 675–717. doi:10.2307/2421208. JSTOR 2421208.
  5. 1 2 Harper, Alice Bryant (1988). The Banana Slug: A Close Look at a Giant Forest Slug of Western North America. Aptos, CA: Bay Leaves Press. ISBN 0962121800.
  6. ↑ Thomas, K. (2000). "Ariolimax columbianus". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
  7. ↑ "The Banana Slug is not a Mythical Creature | spiralbound.net". Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  8. ↑ "All About Slugs - Anatomy".
  9. ↑ "Slugs". oregonstate.edu.
  10. ↑ "All About Slugs | SlugWatch". Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  11. ↑ "Banana Slug". University of Puget Sound.
  12. 1 2 "Banana slug". National Geographic. National Geographic. 30 September 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  13. ↑ Dolkas, Matt (2021-02-03). "The Romantic Lives of Banana Slugs". Peninsula Open Space Trust.
  14. ↑ Banana Slugs by the Project Noah Nature School https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12002129
  15. ↑ "Banana Slug - Ariolimax columbianus -". wildernessclassroom.org. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  16. ↑ "Banana slug, facts and photos". Animals. 2019-12-19. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  17. ↑ "Banana Slug | University of Puget Sound". www.pugetsound.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  18. ↑ Gervais, Jennifer A.; Traveset, Anna; Willson, Mary F. (1998). "The Potential for Seed Dispersal by the Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)". The American Midland Naturalist. 140 (1): 103–110. ISSN 0003-0031.
  19. 1 2 "Banana Slugs: Secret of the Slime". KQED. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  20. ↑ Wetzel, R. G. Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems. Academic Press. 2001. 3rd. p.700.
  21. ↑ "Licking a Banana Slug Will Make Your Tongue Go Numb". Office for Science and Society. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  22. 1 2 Roberts, Leslie Carol (2013-08-01). "On Slug Trails". Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction. 15 (2): 143–152. doi:10.14321/fourthgenre.15.2.0143. ISSN 1522-3868.
  23. ↑ Ellis, Michael. "Why are Banana Slugs so Slimy? -". Bay Nature. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  24. ↑ "Banana Slugs: Secret of the Slime". kqed.org. 17 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Science Spotlight: Banana Slug Slime". Santa Cruz. 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  26. ↑ McQuate, Sarah. "He Slimed Me!". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  27. 1 2 "The Fascinating World Of the Banana Slug with Dr. Janet Leonard Recording". Coastside Land Trust. 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  28. ↑ Brown, Terry Tom (2012-11-18). "Love and other animals: the banana slug". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  29. ↑ "Licking a Banana Slug Will Make Your Tongue Go Numb". Office for Science and Society. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  30. ↑ Reise, H (2002-04-01). "Penis-biting slugs: wild claims and confusions". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 17 (4): 163. doi:10.1016/s0169-5347(02)02453-9. ISSN 0169-5347.
  31. ↑ Gordon, David George (1994). Western Society of Malacologists: Field Guide to the Slug. Sasquatch Books. ISBN 1-57061-011-8.
  32. ↑ Gross, Jane (1989-03-22). "Russian River Journal; Courage Is an Ingredient At Banana Slug Festival". New York Times.
  33. ↑ Janiskee, Bob (2010-03-22). "Creature Feature: The Banana Slug is Living Proof that a Slimy Little Gastropod Mollusk Can be Loaded with Charisma". National Parks Traveler.
  34. ↑ "Dewey Decimal Drama | Every Little Thing". Gimlet. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  35. ↑ "Our Mascot: Sammy the Banana Slug – UC Santa Cruz". Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  36. ↑ UC Santa Cruz Menu. "Banana Slug Mascot". University of California, Santa Cruz. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
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