Large Red Slug (Arion rufus)

Scientific name: Arion rufus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Large Red Slug
Other names: Chocolate Arion or European Red Slug.
French name: Limace rouge
Order: Stylommatophora
Size: 10 to 12 cm.
Habitat : Damp places in gardens, cultivated fields and woodlands, often near human activity.
Food: Vegetarian.
Reproduction : Cross-fertilizing hermaphrodite. The eggs are laid in holes in different places such as in the ground, under a stone or in fissured bark.
Geographic area: Western Europe, Central Europe, North America.

The colour of the Large Red Slug can vary from white, yellowish white, to yellow, red, brown and black.
Adults don't have any stripes or marks.
The Red Slug has two pairs of tentacles. The upper pair, darkly-coloured, --called optical-- are light sensors. The lower pair provides the sense of smell. Both pairs also serve the sense of touch.
The tentacles are retractable and can be regrown when lost.
The mouth has two jaws with small teeth and a tongue.
The respiratory pore is located on the right side, just backward the head.

Large Red Slug (Arion rufus) - Yvelines, France - May 25th 2006

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May 2006 is a very wet month. Walking in the forest allow to observe many large Red Slugs.

Large Red Slug (Arion rufus) - Yvelines, France - June 23rd 2007

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Snails and slugs appreciate the proximity of the compost heap located in shady corner of the garden.

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André Bon November 2007