Slugs are gastropod mollusks and not insects. Their scientific classification follows:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Suborder: Eupulmonata
Even though considered as repulsive as insects by most of us and as much in demand by school boys as any insect, slugs have a line uniquely their own. Slugs either have very small shells or no shells at all. Slugs have both marine and terrestrial species. Slugs are hermaphroditic, which means they are male and female at the same time as they posses both reproductive organs. Slugs encircle each other to mate and lay around 30 days. In certain species the slugs chew off the penis of each other (talk about birth control!) and the so the slugs remain female henceforth. Slugs are prone to desiccation (extreme dryness) therefore land-based slugs prefer moist habitats. Slugs are characterized by moist and wet worm-like bodies with two pairs of feelers or tentacles near the head. The top pair are optical sensors the lower ones are for smell. Slugs eat fungus and vegetables while some species are predatory. They figure as a delicacy in the diet of frogs, birds, snakes, hedgehogs and certain beetles. Slugs produce mucus which they require for both retaining moisture and for facilitating movement. One
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Suborder: Eupulmonata
Even though considered as repulsive as insects by most of us and as much in demand by school boys as any insect, slugs have a line uniquely their own. Slugs either have very small shells or no shells at all. Slugs have both marine and terrestrial species. Slugs are hermaphroditic, which means they are male and female at the same time as they posses both reproductive organs. Slugs encircle each other to mate and lay around 30 days. In certain species the slugs chew off the penis of each other (talk about birth control!) and the so the slugs remain female henceforth. Slugs are prone to desiccation (extreme dryness) therefore land-based slugs prefer moist habitats. Slugs are characterized by moist and wet worm-like bodies with two pairs of feelers or tentacles near the head. The top pair are optical sensors the lower ones are for smell. Slugs eat fungus and vegetables while some species are predatory. They figure as a delicacy in the diet of frogs, birds, snakes, hedgehogs and certain beetles. Slugs produce mucus which they require for both retaining moisture and for facilitating movement. One
