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"FEMALE FOREVER"


Photo Information
Copyright: Aires Mario da Cruz (oscarromulus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1145 W: 189 N: 2132] (5684)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-09
Categories: Molluscs
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-11-25 17:28
Viewed: 1330
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is the "Yellow Slug" that had just finished
copulating; and, I had realized far too late that I
had NOT photographed this most beautiful occassion.

We had just finished our hike on to Mt. Finalayson off highway # 1 in Vancouver Island when we decided to rest in the GOLDSTREAM PROVINCIAL PARK. Just outside the coffee shop on the side walk were these two slugs ....

SLUGS are gastropods molluscs without shells or with a very small internal one. Their bodies are streamlined and worm-like. Slugs include both marine and terrestrial species.

The soft, slimy bodies of slugs are prone to desiccation; they are therefore confined to moist
environments.

They chew their food by using their radula, a tongue-like organ with many small tooth-like denticles.

They have two pairs of feelers on their head. The opticle tentacles ( light sensors) & the lower pair provides the sense of smell. Both are retractable & if lost they can be regrown.

TODAY SCIENTISTS ARE MONITORING THESE ANIMALS
(SALAMANDERS INCLUDED) CLOSELY TO STUDY A WAY FOR US, HUMANS, TO BE ABLE TO REGAIN OUR LOST LIMBS LOST VIA BOMBS IN WARS ETC:

The mantle covers the top. Under this are the genital openings and its anus. This mantle has an opening for respiration. In this image you are watching you can clearly see its "foot".

Most slugs eat leaves,& decaying material & carrion.

Slugs when attacked by frogs or snakes contract their bodies becoming harder for animals to hold on to them.
Their mucus is a further deterrent.

This "mucus" is most important to them. It helps them to move around & or dry up their body exterior. It contains fibers that prevent them from sliding down vertical surfaces. They have found a way to suspend on their mucus during copulation.

Slugs are hermaphroditic, that is they have both the male and the female organs within their bodies. So to
mate they cling on to each other by encircling each other and the sperm is exchanged through their protruding genitalia just like the common earthworm; but, with one difference. The slug practises apophallation. The penis is curled like a cork-screw and often becomes entangled in their mate's genitalia in the process of exchanging sperm. So they CHEW OFF
one or both of the penises.

And once the penis has been removed the slug remains a female for the rest of its life.

Hence the title: "FEMALE FOREVER".

P.S. They lay about 30 eggs in a hole in the ground.
njmv79, jeanpaul, FeatherBirdLady, jcoowanitwong, Argus, NellyD, blakitan, pablominto, dew77, Alex99, Shoot_Score, mlines has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Shoot_Score: Thanks for writing once more.oscarromulus 1 01-08 10:17
To Shoot_Score: Thanks for writing back.oscarromulus 3 01-08 00:34
To Shoot_Score: Thanks for the visit.oscarromulus 2 01-07 16:32
To Shoot_Score: Re: photo#88911.htmoscarromulus 2 01-07 16:25
To FeatherBirdLady: Thanks for visiting.oscarromulus 1 11-26 17:46
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Mario,
quiet interesting animals by reading your note about them, outstanding work.
TFS,
Nelson ;-)

Looks like a hybridized Banana Slug, with a European Garden Slug, but I might be mistakened. I have a shot of one head-on at Wunderground. Message me if you would like to see it.

This photo is excellent because of the sharpness, colors and motion. :)

Hello Mario,
Sharp and clear details picture. Well done picture with informative note. Well done.
JC

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-11-25 22:58]

Hi Mario,

My wife is not too happy with these in the garden. I've heard if you set a bowl of beer out in the garden the slugs will get drunk and drown.

You have taken an excellent picture that portrays the slug well!

Thanks,

Dave

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2006-11-26 5:08]

Hello Mario,
Excellent contribution to the biodiversity of TN, both with you photo and interesting note.
Well done!
Regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • NellyD Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 237 W: 0 N: 445] (1783)
  • [2006-11-26 10:04]

Hi Mario,

Nice capture of this interesting slug.
Very sharp and clear picture and a very informative note too.
Great job!
TFS

Greetings, Nel

Salut Mario
Félicitation pour cette belle prise en macro de cette belle limace que je crois voir pour la première fois sur le site.La composition est très belles ainsi que les couleurs et les détails.
Merci et au revoir....amitié jp
Les sourires demain

Hi Aires,
Nicely capturing this slug. Well focused, great sharpness, and nice details. Great natural colors. Well framed with matching colors.
Great shot and nice PP works.

Ben Lakitan

Hello Mario,
An interesting creature captured with fine details!
Close-up work is well done, good point of view in this well composed presentation...
Lovely natural colours, good information in the note!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-11-27 10:52]

Hello Aires,
Very nice close up.POV,colors,clear details,lighting and framing are wonderful.
TFS..:-)

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3584 W: 143 N: 5669] (18531)
  • [2006-11-28 8:42]

Hi Aires.
Precisely work, my friend. Extremely exact reproduction of the surface of this mollusks: colours, details, polish are perfect, also as well as ground and leafs. Nice natural colour palette, and DOF. Tfs and best regards,
Alexei.

HA!!!!!!!!!!! see you have been slugging it out!

I am impressed with the Note!

Can you tell me what the opening is shown on:
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/North_America/Canada/photo88911.htm

I know next to nothing abt. slugs! The above was my first macro on one...

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 541 W: 24 N: 596] (2870)
  • [2007-05-04 19:04]

Hi Mario, I have never seen anything quite like this before. It is amazing to see the diversity in nature. Well taken and presented. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • edal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 376 W: 50 N: 412] (1849)
  • [2007-06-23 9:08]

Hi AMario!
Your snail photo is so vivid and sharpened and colored - just a perfect close up. Congratulations!
Anton

Hi Mario,
We were in Goldstream hiking on the weekend and we also saw these slugs..thank you for identifying them for me.The ones we saw were like maybe 5- 6 inches in length...
I will post my shot tomorrow I think....is that allowed??

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