Slug with bright color Bashny.Net

In the world a lot of interesting things that can sicken humans.
It is not something that touch, look disgusting.
On this creature, which is called the banana slug, look quite normal, but not everyone dares to touch.
Let us consider in more detail this slug.

It can be found in the forests and parks of America, along the Pacific coast from California to Alaska. See you need under your feet, because that's where he's looking for his favorite vegetarian food: lichens, rotting grass, and especially the mushrooms.

Banana Slug can even eat the feces of the animals, turning them into so necessary for the plants humus. In turn, it is a treat for large birds, raccoons and hungry coyotes.

Notice banana slugs is easy because of their bright yellow color. Although among them there are also white, brown and green birds, and some are decorated with dark spots on the back. The color depends on the diet of terrestrial molluscs and may change over time. Their body length is 20-25 cm, they are second only to lung snail Limax cinereoniger, which grows up to 30 cm.

Slugs move around with the help of his huge leg muscles, making undulating movements. They can crawl at a speed of 16-17 cm per minute. Of course, predators do not run away, but you can very quickly get to their own production.

Banana slugs feel your unsightly lunch with the help of lower short horns, which are organs of touch and smell. Long upper horns on the head end with primitive eyes. Head covered with a mantle itself, on the right side of which is a breathing hole.

Banana slugs - hermaphrodites, that is, they have both male and female sexual organs that joker Nature has placed on his head. In principle, they may fertilize themselves, but prefer to attract a mate. The readiness to reproduce reports mucus with special pheromone that leaves a slug. The process of double fertilization usually takes place at night and lasts about 12 hours.

It is interesting that the male genital organs from banana slugs are so long that sometimes hopelessly confused. Here it is former lovers forget about mutual feelings and try to hurry Gnaw his mouth Turk genitals partner well, or yourself if you absolutely tight. After such troubles they have until the end of life content with the role of the female.

Banana slugs lay on the leaves of about 75 fertilized eggs. About his own offspring, they do not care, and it is not necessary, as little sliznyachki quite viable and independent.

Though it sounds unbelievable, but quite edible banana slugs. They ate the Indians in ancient times, and the first settlers often roasted in oil. However, the particular choice, and then was not. But what explains the tradition of cooking and eating slugs at the annual festival in one of the towns sunny California is hard to say. Maybe it's just a tribute to tradition and the desire to try something new. But gourmets certainly this did not participate.