Black Slug
Arion ater
Mollusca
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 1-2 yrs
- Size
- Large
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Nocturnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Temperate forest
- Range
- Europe
- Movement
- Slithering
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Toxins
- Status
- Common
About
The black slug is one of Europe's largest land slugs, stretching up to 15 cm, yet its colour is famously deceptive — the same species comes in jet black, orange-brown, and red forms. It thrives in gardens and woodlands, feeding on fungi, decaying matter, and living plants.
Life cycle
- 1.juvenileA juvenile mollusk takes adult form after its larval phase and begins building or growing its shell.
- 2.adultFully grown at adult shell size or body length.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Class
- Gastropoda
- Order
- Stylommatophora
- Family
- Arionidae
- Genus
- Arion
- Species
- Arion ater