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Black slug, red variant

Arion rufus

Photo by KarenSaxton
Published on Project Noah
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43.1771, -124.188

Field Notes

Description:

3-5 inches long and about 3/4-1 inch across

Habitat:

grassy areas

Notes:

I joking call these chocolate slugs, to differentiate from the banana slugs we also have that are almost twice as big and yellow with brown spots

Species ID Suggestions

European black slug

Arion ater or Arion rufus

Reference Link
shebebusynow
1

Comments (6)
Ava T-B
I've moved this slug from the Arthropod category to the Other category for you. Snails and slugs are Mollusks. Arthropods have an exoskeleton and jointed limbs in at least one phase of their life. Think dragonfly, bee, crab, and ant.
KarenSaxton
Goodness! Tell me about it. I'm allergic to the pollens of both. Bandon is tough on me from Jan to June or sometimes later
shebebusynow
Now if those slugs would just EAT Scotch broom and gorse, we'd be set.
KarenSaxton
oh and I see they came over with the same people who brought us Scotch broom and gorse... yay
KarenSaxton
Never had a slug race! These guys have a black under belly. They are horrible in the garden. Pretty much just mow down new lettuce plants before they have a chance
shebebusynow
We have these up the coast, too. Usually they're "chocolate" with orange, but one place in Seal Rock they really are black. They do a lot more damage to a garden than banana slugs ( partly because they're so numerous). Also, in slug races, banana slugs will beat these guys pretty much every time.
Photographed
PublishedJuly 25, 2011

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