| Leopard Slug (Limax maximus (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Limax maximus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Leopard Slug Other names: Great Grey Slug French name: Limace léopard, Limace cendrée, Grande loche grise, Grande limace cendrée, Grande limace grise Order: Stylommatophora Size: 10-13 cm. Habitat : Damp habitats, with a preference for the neighbourhood of human habitations. Gardens, damp hedgerows, cellars, damp barns. Food: Omnivorous. The Leopard Slug feeds on plants, fungi and other slug species. Reproduction : The cross-fertilizing mating usually occurs high in a tree. The two entwined together slugs hang down on a thick string of mucus. Geographic area: Originated from southern Europe, western Europe and western Africa, Leopard slugs can be seen in northern Europe and central Europe. It was also introduced to many other countries including the United States of America, South Africa, Australia, New Zeeland and southern Brazil. |
The Leopard Slug is mainly active during the night. It spends the day in its usual hide, under a stone, inside a crevice or in any other damp and safe place. This is a very long slug with a pointed body at the rear. The back is a more or less dark grey colour or blackish with variable black spots or black streaks. The mantle shield is always black spotted. The respiratory hole is located in the back half of the mantle shield. The tentacles are reddish brown. There is a possible confusion with Limax cinereoniger. Limax maximus has a uniform whitish sole foot and Limax cinereoniger has a bicoloured sole foot, whitish in the centre and dark on the edges. Limax cinereoniger has black-spotted or black tentacles. Both species show a keel (crest) which is longer on Limax cinereoniger than on Limax maximus. |
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The Leopard Slug is more than 10 cm long when it stretches out its body. This times I have checked that the sole is a uniform whitish colour to confirm the species. |
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I have found this large slug inside the compost box in the garden. Not knowing much about the different species, I have not looked at the colour of the sole of the foot. This would have enabled me to be sure of the identification between Limax cinereoniger and Limax maximus I have used here the rather pale brown colour of the tentacles. |
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I have tried to shoot a front view picture with a precise focus on the eyes. I am eager to see another slug to shoot a far better picture using the "live view" mode of my digital camera. |
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Here is one view showing the location of the respiratory hole. |
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I have put this slug upside down to verify the colour of the sole foot. A uniform whitish colour extending to the edges confirms Limax maximus. |
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Here is another close-up view of the antennae. I have noticed, afterwards, the presence of a tiny acarus walking upon the head of the slug. |
André Bon June 2016