Pacific Banana Slug

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Pacific Banana Slug
Banana Slug-1.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Superorder: Eupulmonata
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Ariolimacidae
Genus: Ariolimax
Species:
A. columbianus
Binomial name
Ariolimax columbianus
(Gould, 1851)

The Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus) is a species of slug found on the Pacific coast of North America. [1] It is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world, growing up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long. [1] As of 2021, it is the most commonly observed species in the genus Ariolimax on the citizen science website iNaturalist. [2] An important function of this particular species is the role it plays in seed dispersion. [3]

Distribution

The Pacific Banana Slug is found from Alaska, United States and British Columbia, Canada in the north down through Idaho, Washington,and Oregon to Southern California, with the highest concentration in California. They are the only species of the genus Ariolimax that is found outside of California. They are found in moist and damp areas of the forest floor.

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References

  1. 1 2 Thomas, Kristen. "Ariolimax columbianus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  2. "Observations: Ariolimax". iNaturalist.org. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  3. Gervais, J., Traveset, A., Willson, M. (1998). “The Potential for Seed Dispersal by the Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)”. The American Midland Naturalist. Vol. 140. Is. 1. Pp. 103-110.