Great Gray Garden Slug, Tiger slug, spotted leopard slug

Limax maximus is found commonly in West Coast gardens. It has spots on the mantle and spots or tiger stripes on the upper surface of its foot. It has a smooth, furrowless body with the pneumostome placement located near the rear edge of the mantle. It's length is about 4 inches (10 cm). It is four times faster than banana slug which is useful as it is predatory on other slugs. It originated from Asia Minor and Europe. (Gordon, 1994).

This slug is also reknown for it's ardent courtship. Great gray garden slugs mate while suspended from a slime cord (copulate midair). The courtship was captured photographically recently on my siding.

References:
Gordon, David George. 1994. Field Guide to the Slug. Western Society of Malacologists, Sasquatch Books, Seattle, WA. 48 pp.

Terrestrial Gastropods of the Columbia Basin, British Columbia: Limax maximus.

Leopard slug: Limax maximus This site is a photographic delight.

Photo: Rosetta, OSU

Limax maximus spotting

Photo: Rosetta

Evening shot highlighting spotting

Photo: Greg St. Onge

Photo: Rosetta, OSU

Photo: Rosetta, OSU