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Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Not a caterpillar not quite a slug as I think slugs look like. It has a non-tapering, tubular body and beady eyes. Smooth body.

Habitat:

It was moving slowly around the trunk of a large tree on an embankment near the mouth of the River Matla in the Sunderbans area; Kaikhali. Small ants were worrying it and for a bit I thought they would swarm over it...but, NO! As it moved on, the ants left it alone. It circled around the trunk of the tree without any agenda that I could make out and then, rested.

Notes:

Any ID help would be welcome.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
SukanyaDatta
Thanks Leuba. It was slightly yucky to look at...I hope I get an ID.
Leuba Ridgway
Sorry Sukanya, I definitely didn't think it was an exuvia - just said it looked like one. A crab or fruit ! - now that's another thing... ???? The other one you've posted as strange is perhaps a propagule of a mangrove about to become a seedling. I've seen a lot of these around our mangroves here. Will post a comment on the spotting.
SukanyaDatta
Hi Leuba, No, no definitely NOT exuvia...it circled the entire trunk of the tree...coming up to face me with its beady eyes. I have seen 2 peculiar things in this area. This is one. The second is : https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/159514308 My friend says she thinks it is a crab because in her photos she can see "legs." I have not seen her photos as yet...at least 2 PN-users say it is a fruit.
Leuba Ridgway
Interesting- It looks like an exuvia of a moth, although you don't spot these on trees and they don't move ! :) How interesting-I hope someone can ID it for you.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Biodiversity of West Bengal, India
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 4, 2022

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