Slimy Slippery Slithering Slugs

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “slug”? Something slimy and disgusting? An enemy to your garden? Did the phrase ‘monthly mystery macro’ come to mind? Well it should have, because that is the answer to this month’s mystery macro. Here are the guesses that were made: (1) part of a big snake, (2) a fungus, and (3) a lizard. Two people guessed ‘lizard’, with one guess being a bit comical: “This is the under belly of a Fastiousa Lizard, of the Imaginarious genus. They are almost extinct.” That ‘sj’ has quite an imagination. Sorry everyone, but nobody guessed it. As you now know, the correct answer is “Slug”. Here is the full photo from which the mystery macro was taken:

I have spent quite a bit of time trying to find information about slugs in Bolivia, and I didn’t exactly find a wealth of information. I found some basic stuff about slugs in
general, such as slugs are in the scientific class Gastropoda. However they are then grouped into over 30 scientific families, so there are likely thousands of species of slugs. What kind is this one?
 

I haven’t a clue. Do you? Just like with any of our posts, we invite your comments to help us identify the flora and fauna we see in Bolivia.

It is very possible that this slug is an unclassified species of fauna. Do you think I am exaggerating? The truth is that only one tenth or fewer of existing species today have been described in scientific literature. So statistically speaking, the odds are in my favor that no one has ever studied or cataloged this particular slug.

You may think of slugs as only nasty pests. Do they do any good? Well, besides being part of the food chain, which in itself is an important part of the earth’s ecosystems, they also play an important role in clearing away dead or dying organic matter. Take as an example the Banana Slug of California (Ariolimax californicus or Ariolimax columbianus), the North American cousin of the little guy I found. We photographed it in a redwood forest during a recent trip to visit family and friends.
 

This slug has been studied extensively. It is known to recycle what it eats into soil humus. It also spreads seeds and spores through its excretions plus a nitrogen rich fertilizer.

Are you curious now to know more about slugs? Although I couldn’t find anything specific about the one I saw here in Bolivia, there is a ton of information out there about curious and wondrous slugs in other parts of the world, including the recently discovered carnivorous albino slug of Great Britain, and the fluorescent pink slug of Australia. Just two more hints that we have soooo much to learn about life on our fantastic planet! Don’t you think so?

 (Léase en español / Read in Spanish)