Also known as the great grey slug or giant garden slug, the leopard slug (Limax maximus) is among the largest of the keelback slug family. At their biggest they can reach up to 20cm in length. Individual coloring ranges from grey to bright yellow, and is covered with dark spots that give it its distinctive name. The head sports 4 tentacles-- two eye stalks and two lower tentacles used for taste and smell. Extending from the head to a third of the way down the body is a “shield” or mantle, used to hide respiratory pores, the reproductive organs, and the anus, the latter two of which are located on the right side of the body.
L. maximus is perhaps most famously known for its unusual mating habits. This species is hermaphroditic, meaning individuals have both reproductive organs. Mating occurs year-round; when two individuals meet, they circle and feel each other with their tentacles, often for several hours. If they decide to proceed, the two then climb up a tree or other high area and lower themselves from a thick strand of mucus, twined together. Each individual then extends a penis and use them to exchange sperm. Afterwards, they can lay up to 200 eggs a piece; these hatch about a month later. Young take up to two years to reach sexual maturity, and individuals can live up to three years.
When not mating, the leopard slug spends most of its time hiding under logs, boards, leaf litter, or other dark, moist places. In addition to deciduous forests and wet grasslands, L. maximus is especially common around man-made structures like cellars and gardens, They are native to Europe, although they have been introduced to North America, South America, Africa, and Australia. The great grey slug is an omnivore, feeding on dead plants and animals. They have also been known to pursue and consume small invertebrates, reaching a blazing 15 cm an hour at their top speed. Common predators of this species are turtles, large beetles, toads, birds, and smaller mammals like hedgehogs.
Conservation status: Rated as Least Concern by the IUCN. Outside its native range, it is considered a major agricultural pest.
