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Midnight Walk Surprise
I was outside this morning at about 2 a.m., taking my dogs for a walk in the woods because one of them was having a rough night.
As I gazed at my feet, flashlight beam falling where it may, I saw what appeared to be a long skinny snake.
Quickly I aimed the light on the snake suspect while my brain tried to figure out what manner of critter I was looking at. It was not a snake, but two very elongated slugs, one following the other, end-to-end! I guessed together they measured nearly twelve inches long. I had never seen slugs this long before, nor a pair of slugs following each other.
I ran to get my camera while my dogs considered their favorite places to respond to nature's call, and returned to take several pictures. Realizing that the size of these slugs would not be truly represented without something to compare them to, I ran back in the house to get the ruler.
The only things I knew about slugs, before this encounter, was that they were related to snails or they were snails without shells, they were garden pests, they left a slimy trail that turned silvery when it dried on concrete, and that beer, salt, and various other products easily caused their demise.
I was disappointed that the damp duo did not demonstrate their full dimensions by the time I returned with the ruler. Perhaps I had annoyed them too much with all the camera flashes, manipulating the ruler around them as they continued to maneuver away from me. They seemed intent on following each other, and they appared to be moving relatively quickly, as far as slugs go. If I had known what their true intentions were, and had I known exactly what I was looking at, in other words, had I been informed or educated on these things, I would have pulled up a chair, and waited for the show to begin!
But I didn't know, and in that ignorance that we often refer to as bliss, I missed out on one of nature's most bizarre and beautiful ballets of sexual intimacy. C'mon, think from the slug's point of view!
It wasn't until after the sun came up, and after I did an AOL search that I learned the identity of the two slugs. They are Leopard slugs, quite common in these parts, though not native. They are also common in Australia, but not native. Apparently the slugs came over from Europe in the early days of colonization.
Here are two great pages to visit. This one is a video presented by BBC Science and Nature, Life in the Undergrowth. I hope you can see the video just by clicking on the link above because it is truly awesome. Just a few minutes of the bizarre and beautiful ballet of intimacy shared by the mating Leopard Slugs. The music accompanying the scene hints at mystery and magic. Warning: graphic video!
The other place to visit has some beautiful pictures of the Leopard Slug.
I don't have time to write more, but you can check out the two websites and find out in greater detail what I could have told in a few lines. I have to run to take care of some VBS matters. Please check out the video... it is amazing!
I didn't know they did that, like that! Did you?
I remember watching an octopus documentary on public TV, and was captured by the same delicate dancing of their mating manners.
What wonders we have in our own backyard.
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Hello Bea~
Goodness sakes, those critters are HUGE!! I would have screamed bloddy murder....LOL I should get used those kinds of things as we will soon be moving to the Missouri countryside. I have not ever see them that big...WOW.
But you did the best thing....took pictures....LOL!
Big Hugs,
Gayla
http://journals.aol.com/schoolgal040/SoMuchMore/ -
Thank you for the chuckle! Written like a true educator. I would add to your research that slugs are the ONLY moving creature on earth that is of no interest to our cats. <grin>
Patrick
http://journals.aol.com/daddyleer/CaregivinglyYours/ -
Betty, Great tie in with my Oregon journal entry. You can not find to many slugs in Colorado but they are plentiful in Oregon. You are right....I learned something today. Thanks! David
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EWWWW! I hate slugs! I have vivid memories of squishing one between my toes when I was little. Traumatized for life! LOL!
Hugs,
Gwynn
7/5/06 7:44 PM