Fulicas are slug eaters in Hawaii

[coyote]

"All three A. fulica climbed on top of the slug and proceeded to consume the integument of the slug. It took over five minutes for the snails to kill the slug. During the first three minutes, the slug crawled and pulled the snails with it as it moved. In the last two minutes, the slug seemed distressed and tried to curl up. After the slug stopped moving, the snails continued to consume the slug for a few minutes."

Source: the March issue of the American Malacological Bulletin, from Snail's Tales blog.

I wonder if this is true of fulicas elsewhere?

[kanin]

hmm.. that seems unlikely, but after reading the article you linked to I see that the statement seems to be backed up so to say with serious research on the subject. I have never heard of this before.

[Deleted]

That's interesting. I wonder if it was anything specific about that slug species or the conditions the snails were in.

[Kevin]

That is unusual. I agree it may be the conditions, or maybe lack of something in the snails diet that they would get naturally in Africa. I have read of sheep and deer eating live birds on islands in Scotland to supplement their diet, maybe its the same with the fulica in Hawaii?

[coyote]

Fulica are an introduced species in Hawaii, so I am not surprised to learn of atypical behavior. I am surprised that it is predatory behavior, though.

[whodoesntlovesnails]

i havent really heard of fulicas doing that, but i have never even seen one...