A Slug's Life

Have you ever wondered how some of nature's smallest creatures spend their days? Here's your chance to take a scientifically accurate peek into the life of the slug (Limax). Striking illustrations and lively storyline capture the real life changes for this small animal as it hunts for food, faces its enemies, and interacts with humans.

Slugs are closely related to snails. They both have shells, but a slug's shell is small, and hidden under its skin. Land slugs live in moist places. They spend the day under stones and logs and come out at night to feed. Slugs eat a variety of plants and mushrooms.

There is no such thing as a male or female slug. Every slug is a hermaphrodite (her-maf-fro-dyte)-sometimes it plays the role of male, and sometimes female. All slugs can lay eggs.   

As slugs move from place to place, they leave behind a slimy trail. The slime is similar to the mucus that runs down the back of your throat when you have a cold. The thick, slippery slime is produced by a gland in the slug's foot. The slime makes it easier for the slug to glide along the ground.   

The next time you spot a slug's slime trail, see if you can follow it to its hideout.

Other books in this series: ♦ A Hummingbird's Life ♦ A Luna Moth's Life ♦ A Wood Frog's Life ♦ A Mealworm's Life ♦ A Mouse's Life