Slugs get bad press. They exude a liquid crystal, they have sex while dangling from a thread, and one time they beat a charismatic mammal in a dramatic popular vote. People tend to call something a slug if it looks like a snail but has no shell. However, many distantly related critters among the gastropods—the group that contains snails and slugs—have independently evolved a sluggy, shell-free shape. And then there are the in-betweeners. So-called semi-slugs have tiny shells on the outside of their bodies that are way too small for them to retract into.
Honestly, they look pretty ridiculous. First, check out the tentacles. Two are for seeing and smelling, and they can be operated independently: a slug can gaze at you or smell you and a friend simultaneously.
The other two are for touching and tasting. Slugs also have thousands and thousands of teeth. And in case that doesn't seem weird enough, slugs essentially breathe through a blowhole that opens up on one side of their bodies. This round pore is called a pneumostome. Sea slugs have their own incredible features. For example, some breathe using delicate feather-like gills that surround their butt holes, and they smell with neon-colored, bizarrely shaped protrusions called rhinophores.
Melibe leonina from Santa Cruz. First off, the mucus produced by slugs can cause excess drool or induce vomiting. Even worse, in times of stress, slugs are known to produce extra mucus as a deterrent, so your cat or dog would be eating a lot of slug slime. Further, some slugs are infested with parasitical lungworm, so this parasite can infect your pet. If your pet seems to enjoy eating slugs, ask your veterinarian to provide it with a lungworm vaccine. Another interesting fact is that slug slime has anesthetic properties — exposure to it will cause numbness.
This is another reason why slugs have so few predators — anything that tries to eat a slug will have a numb mouth. Slugs are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs.
A few days later, both will deposit eggs in a sheltered spot with adequate moisture. From there, the next generation of slugs is born. Slugs, depending on their species, can live from 1 to 5 years. During the winter, slugs burrow underground to escape freezing temperatures. What are Slugs? What Do Slugs Look Like? In North America, slugs can measure up to 10 inches long. What Attracts Slugs? Transparency Disclosure — We may receive a referral fee at no additional cost to the buyer for products purchased through the links on our site or other applicable pages.
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Last Updated On October 8, Written by Sleep Advisor. Congratulations, you have googled one of the most random topics ever. How Long Do Snails Sleep? Snail Sleeping Habits. Hibernation and Estivation. Other Fun Facts about Snails. Snails Do Not Copulate.
Unbelievable Sizes. Salt Can Kill Them. They Love to Eat Plants. They Have a Great Family. Frequently Asked Questions. How long does a snail live? Do snails sleep at night? Do snails sleep upside down? Conclusion Snails are complicated creatures, and their existence goes far beyond eating leaves in the garden.
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