California Banana Slug Fact Sheet

California Banana Slug Fact Sheet

Common Name: California Banana Slug

Scientific Name: Ariolimax californicus

Wild Status: Not Listed

Habitat: Forest Floors

Country: United States - California & Oregon

Shelter: In & around the rainforest belt - forest floors, decomposing trees, logs

Life Span: 1-7 years on average

Size: Up to 9.8 inches and 4.1 grams

Details

Banana Slugs are gastropods found in North America, with the California Banana Slug specifically found in California & Oregon. Like other slugs, they have two pairs tentacles for sensing around their environment. One pair is for detecting chemicals, while the other pair can sense movement and light. These tentacles can even grow back if a predator bites one off! Their natural habitat is coastal coniferous rainforests, which is why you find them primarily in the pacific northwest. The Banana Slug is a detritivore, so they enjoy decomposing and decaying matter for a snack. After they eat, these slugs excrete a fertilizer rich in nitrogen. Their Goo (slime) is also very unique - it's more of a liquid crystal substance instead of a pure liquid or solid. This Goo can also absorb up to 100 times its volume in water.

Cool Facts

• Named the Banana Slug for their yellow coloration, these slugs also can be brown/tan, white, or even slightly green. • The Banana Slug is the second largest terrestrial slug on the planet. • Known as detritivores/decomposers, the Banana Slug will eat a variety of dead & decomposing matter. This includes dead plant matter, moss, animal droppings, mushrooms, and more. • The Goo (slime) that the Banana Slug secretes can numb the tongue of potential predators. • There are 3 species in the genus Ariolimax - the California Banana Slug, Pacific Banana Slug, and Slender Banana Slug • The banana slug is the mascot of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Taxonomic Breakdown

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Subclass: Heterobranchia Infraclass: Euthyneura Superorder: Eupulmonata Order: Stylommatophora Family: Ariolimacidae Subfamily: Ariolimacinae Genus: Ariolimax

Conservation & Helping

The California Banana Slug is not currently listed on the IUCN for their conservation status. They are not believed to be endangered, however always take care to respect their space in the wild!

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