Here's the black slug now, a large land slug of the roundback slug family. The colour of the black slug is generally black, but the colouration is very variable and this slug can even be white. The general trend is for a darker pigmentation the farther north the species is found. The classification of brown-coloured and rust-coloured "black" slugs is somewhat disputed; the brown variation is sometimes considered to be a separate species, the red slug (Arion rufus). Young specimens of black slug do have a brown colour, which is later lost if and when the slug changes color to the mature state. The black slug is mainly nocturnal and avoids exposure to sunlight. It is omnivorous, eating carrion, fungi, and vegetation (living and decaying). The slug prefers moist conditions, such as lawns, making it an unwelcome sight for homeowners. This moist environment is essential for the terrestrial locomotion of the slug to function. Like all other species of the roundback slug family, the black slug is a hermaphrodite, meaning it can fertilize itself if needed, although a mate is preferred. After mating, the slug lays eggs about 5 mm in diameter. The favoured location for eggs is a dark, cold, damp place such as a compost heap. The mucus of the black slug is highly distasteful to many animals. However, this slug does have some natural predators, including hedgehogs, badgers, snakes and some birds. When picked up or touched, the black slug will contract to a hemispherical shape and begin to rock from side to side. This defensive behaviour confuses predators, and is unique in the roundback slug family.
Other Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Family: Arionidae
Scientific Name: Arion ater
Length: 10-15 cm
Distribution: Originally from Northern Europe; introduced into USA & Canada
Consevation Status: Not Evaluated
All facts and information are based on what I've researched on the internet or read about in books or heard from other animal experts when I travel to other different countries around the world.
