What kind of a slug am I?

[pinkunicorn]

I got this little guy along with a leopard slug from a friend's garden. I've been wondering what is he. Have a look.





His pneumostome is quite at the front, unlike in many (all?) Deroceras slugs and he also does not have a prominent keel like many Deroceras species. He is the typical size though. Also notice the orangey hem-like thing on the foot. It is not exactly like the hems Arions have though. The bottom of the foot is the same orangey colour, striking contrast to the black-and-white striped body.





He's quite shy and not up for photos like some others. But he eats well. He's living with my D.invadens colony now as I wanted him to have q bigger enclosure with company. Last night he was hiding in the substrate so I didn't see him but I think he's doing fine.

But what species is he? Anyone know?

[gunshotglitter]

I don't know much about slugs but I used the identification tool and ended up with Arion fasciatus or Arion distinctus as a result. *shrugs*

He's a real cutie

[Evil Angel]

'The Black Slug (Arion ater)


The black slug can he very big: a length of up to 20 cm has been recorded. Its colour is very variable - white, red, orange or grey are all common although black is most usual, often with an orange fringe. There is no keel, and the skin is coarse and granular. The sole is pale, sometimes orange, and the mucus is white. The black slug may rock from side to side when disturbed!

Familiar to all gardeners because of its spectacular size, the black slug is rarely as destructive as the three smaller species described above but can cause damage in spring to seedlings of many kinds. Later, when its preferred diet of rotting vegetation, fungi, manure and even dead animals is more readily available, it causes little damage in the garden - other than promoting heart failure if you step on one when feeding the cat at night.'

I think that's what he is

[pinkunicorn]

Thanks for the responses. He definitely contracts like an Arion does. He did not rock from side to side like some Arions, but not all of them do that anyway. One genus I thought of is Lehmannia, which is a subgenus of Limax. But, no keel on this one, so Arion is probably indeed a better guess. Also, the pneumostome is in the front in Arions, like in this one.

I looked up pics of all of A.ater, A.fasciatus and A.distinctus and found this in the suggestions, and it's exactly like mine!



Arion hortensis, apparently. Too bad I only have one now... need to ask my friend if she wants to get rid of a few more garden pests, since that's where this one came from1 He is very cute, and I think he is a baby, Arions are usually much larger as adults. I want more of these babies!