Banana Slug Bashny.Net

Banana slugs are the largest representatives of all North American slugs. Particular attention they attract not only for its impressive dimensions, but also the process of reproduction. How would mildly, these slugs - hermaphrodites (each individual has both female and male reproductive organs), and after mating, to disconnect from your partner at times they have to gnaw .... or your male sexual organ. Here.

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Banana Slug - a common name for 3 types of slugs from the genus Ariolimah. It Ariolimax californicus (California banana slug), Ariolimax columbianus (Pacific banana slug) and Ariolimax dolichophallus (Slender banana slug). And the biggest of them is the Pacific Banana Slug - Pacific banana slug. The length of its body is about 20-25 centimeters. He concedes only palm Limax cinereoniger, which is a record among all slugs and grows up to 30 centimeters.



You can meet with them in the forests along the Pacific coast from Alaska to the cold and hot ending California. Only the trees you will not find them, it is better to look at his feet, on the forest floor.



Despite the name, not all representatives of the banana slugs have a bright yellow color. Some of them may be brown, white or green, and adorned with dark spots. Over time, their color may change slightly. It depends on the diet of slugs and the humidity level in the environment.



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Yellow with dark spots. It looks like a rotten banana



White Banana Slug
For transportation they use muscular leg. These giants are developing a decent speed for their size and can be overcome for a minute about 16-17 centimeters.



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They breathe through the pulmonary hole, which is located on the right side of the mantle. The head is decorated with two pairs of horns. One real, the other shorter. The top pair of eyes are located, through which slugs distinguish the brightness of light, and on the bottom - the organs of touch and smell, allowing him to easily find your dinner.



Pulmonary hole on the right side of the mantle



2 pairs of horns

They feed exclusively on vegetable food: lichen, half-rotten leaves, other plants and even animal feces, but a special treat for them are mushrooms. With its pasti- "grater" they can cope with any food. Thus, slugs of great benefit - these animals are able to handle almost any organic material in nature, which then turns into humus. Thus, they are an important link in the ecosystem.



Lunch



Unlike many other slugs living in different parts of the world, our heroes do not harm agriculture and forest plantation.



Well, finally we got to the most interesting - to the process of reproduction of banana slugs. As mentioned, the heroes of our notes, as well as all the other slugs are hermaphrodites. They are capable of self-fertilization and on, but mostly to help attract a partner. The readiness to mate notify slugs, leaving behind a mucus with special pheromone that tells others about the readiness to mate.



The process of pairing



Meet each other, slugs begin to wrap their partner's sperm, is released through the protruding genitalia. This sacred process takes place at night and lasts for about 12 hours. There are cases that male genitalia after such a long process, entangled, and slugs can not get rid of each other. Then they have to go to extreme measures - to bite off a partner's sexual organ, well, or at least, his own. After that, they can reproduce only a part of the female reproductive system.

Banana slugs are able to store for several weeks sperm partner. This helps them to fertilize the eggs, which at the time of mating is not yet ripe. Slugs lay fertilized eggs on the leaves. On average, there are about 75 pieces. And yet, their mission in this is over, no worries about the future of the offspring is not in sight.



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