Large Black Slug (Arion ater)

OTHER NAMES: Black Slug, European Black Slug
Latin Etymology: Arion ("slug/snail") ater ("blackened by fire")

Adult Large Black Slug (Arion ater) at Geddington, Northants - May 2017

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 10-15cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest of the common species of slugs found in the UK, it is exactly what it says on the tin - a large black species of slug.  They emerge after rain to feed, where they are fairly omnivorous, eating plants, detritus and even other organisms.  They are a favoured food of a number of charismatic species including badgers, hedgehogs and thrushes.

Related Species:
Order: ?
Family: Arionidae
Genus: Arion
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very common resident.

 - Seen at many locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Leopard Slug (Limax maximus)

OTHER NAMES: Great Grey Slug 
Latin Etymology: Limax ("slug") maximus ("biggest")

Adult Leopard Slug (Limax maximus) at Weekly Hall Woods - July 2020

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 10-20cm 
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

By the standards of UK terrestrial slugs, the leopard slug certainly stands out - growing up to 20cm long and with a very variable but always distinctive leopard print pattern it's almost certainly one of the most charismatic species of slugs in the country.  Added to that is their elaborate mating ritual, where a pair of leopard slugs will ascend a tree, intetwine with each other then descend of a rope of mucus and then extrude their reproductive organs, which also intertwine.

Related Species:
Order: ?
Family: Limacidae
Genus: Limax
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Weekly Hall Woods (July 2020), .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Irish Yellow Slug (Limacus maculatus)

OTHER NAMES: Green Cellar Slug 
Latin Etymology: Limacus ("slug") maculatus ("spotted")

 

Irish Yellow Slug (Limacus maculatus) at Geddington, Northants, UK - August 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 13cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the common name, this species is not native to Ireland but rather the Black Sea and the Caucasus region. It tends to favour forests, but can be found a wide variety of habitats, particularly where there are damp areas under logs or similar.
 
Related Species: 
Order: ?
Family: Limacidae
Genus: Limax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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