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| Ariolimax columbianus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Ariolimacidae |
| Genus: | Ariolimax |
| Species: | A. columbianus
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| Binomial name | |
| Ariolimax columbianus (Gould, 1851)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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List
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Ariolimax columbianus, the Pacific banana slug, is a species of slug found on the Pacific coast of North America.[3] It is the second-largest species of terrestrial slug in the world, growing up to 25 centimeters (9.8 in) long.[3] As of 2021, it is the most commonly observed species in the genus Ariolimax on the citizen science website iNaturalist.[4] An important function of this particular species is the role it plays in seed dispersion.[5]
Distribution
[edit]Ariolimax columbianus is endemic to the Pacific Northwest, and inhabits forests ranging from the northern California coast to Alaska.[6] It is the only species of the genus Ariolimax found outside of California.[7] It is found in moist and damp areas of the forest floor.[8]
Description
[edit]Ariolimax columbianus can grow up to 25 centimeters long, making it the second largest terrestrial slug in the world.[3] It is often bright yellow, but it can also be greenish, brown, tan, or white. Ariolimax columbianus commonly also has black spots covering the tail, sometimes so extensively that the tail may appear completely black. Individual slugs can also change color from changes in their environment and eating habits, and can also indicate if a slug is healthy or injured.[6]
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Mantle, note the prominent pneumostome -
Tail, note full length foot fringe and keel. This individual appears to lack melanin, possibly displaying albinism. -
A Pacific banana slug whose tail appears to be nearly entirely black. -
Feeding on a mushroom
References
[edit]- ^ NatureServe (4 April 2025). "Ariolimax columbianus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Ariolimax (Ariolimax) columbianus (A.Gould, 1851)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Kristen (2000). Fabritius, Stephanie (ed.). "Ariolimax columbianus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Observations: Ariolimax". iNaturalist.org. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Gervais, J.; Traveset, A.; Willson, M. (1998). "The Potential for Seed Dispersal by the Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)". The American Midland Naturalist. 140 (1): 103–110. JSTOR 2426993.
- ^ a b Boomer, Sarah M; Baltzley, Michael J; Dutton, Bryan E; Smith, Parker N (2024-03-23). "The faecal microbiome of the Pacific banana slug, Ariolimax columbianus , displays seasonal variation". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 90 (2). doi:10.1093/mollus/eyae007. ISSN 0260-1230.
- ^ Genetti, Maximilian; Escalona, Merly; Mirchandani, Cade; Oppenheimer, Jonas; Beraut, Eric; Sacco, Samuel; Seligmann, William; Fairbairn, Colin W; Sahasrabudhe, Ruta; Marimuthu, Mohan P A; Nguyen, Oanh; Chumchim, Noravit; Corbett-Detig, Russell (2025-06-02). Alter, Elizabeth (ed.). "Secrets of the Goo: The genome assembly of the Pacific banana slug, Ariolimax columbianus". Journal of Heredity. 116 (3): 335–343. doi:10.1093/jhered/esaf002. ISSN 0022-1503. PMC 12130430. PMID 39849889.
- ^ "Banana Slug - Muir Woods National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
External links
[edit]
Data related to Ariolimax columbianus at Wikispecies
Media related to Ariolimax columbianus at Wikimedia Commons
