If you find slugs disgusting, I suspect this post won't change your mind. It's a short series of shots of the leopard slug (Limax maximus) mating. There's a longer sequence over on my main site for the really obsessive.
I have seen this in the garden a couple of times before, and it is one of the most unusual matings you are ever likely to encounter. The slug is 'hermaphroditic', that is each slug has both male and female reproductive systems. But in the strange world of the leopard slug it still takes two to tango (both are fertilized by the process). That's oddity number one. Number two is that they do all this while suspended by their version of a bungee rope. Third, their sexual organ emerges from behind their head. And fourth, the organ is prehensile, has flanges and is a luminescent pale blue in colour.
A few minutes in, and their reproductive organs are entwined
The end
Camera note: all shots were taken with the Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG macro lens, except the first when I still had the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS on the camera.
25 Comments
Thanks! Very interesting. Slimy little buggers that they are. But I guess buggers isn't the right term! Well, maybe sort of!
Robin, slimy and strange for sure. Not sure about the terminology… maybe 'having their cake and eating it', which is (apparently) what they do if they can't untangle themselves :yikes: (Really!)
I have seen them connected but never watched the whole errr…. process :whistle: Never seen anything like this before :left:
Weird, isn't it! :spock:
Thats very strange and interesting, good catch :yes: I have only seen 2 slugs mating once and thats when i accidentally trod on them while trying to avoid them oops 😳
Now thats something I'd love to see. Yet another fastinating thing going on in our own gardens people dont have a clue about!
great photo of one of natures shows 🙂
Mark, you have a thing about slugs, squishing and squashing them! Generally not the most interesting creature in the garden, but now and then they excel themselves.
Adele, indeed!
Neil, they seem to like that wall, which comes down from a raised bed (sort of), so nice and handy for them. I was completely baffled the first time I saw it.
They are truly very weird, no two ways about it :alien:
katy writes:
I was fascinated when I "caught" a couple of slugs in the act in my garden tonite. I thought that they were doing their thing but wasn't sure what the translucent blue blob was–now I know:)
Katy, glad the pictures were of use. I was also bemused by the blue blob the first time I saw this happening.
Anonymous writes:
I just watched this last night. They were attached to a retaining wall on the side of my drive way. Creeped out my stepdaughter. We thought they were giving birth at first. I got the camcorder out and started filming. Got a little Paris Hilton action going when I turned the night vision on because i though I could get a better picture of it. I was expecting something more like aliens to happen. It was not until late last night/this morning I learned they were mating. It was truly an odd event. Lasted about 5 minutes.
Originally posted by anonymous:
😆
Anon, have to agree… it is certainly one of the more bizarre bits of animal behaviour.
Anonymous writes:
wow i had to google this because i just saw it happening in my back yard!!! i was a little creeped out but couldn't stop watching!!!
Fascinating isn't it!
MBS writes:
We saw thid exact thing happening on the side of our house!! Except there was three of them… three some!! It was really gross at first but after seeing this not so bad…we watched all the stages explained in the pics above.
Three? That's interesting!
Megan writes:
Just saw this happen on my back porch… Weird but couldn't look away… And was confused! I thought they were going to give birth to some alien who was going to take my head off. But just turns out that they were getting it on!
Not gonna lie… Kinda feel like a creeper! Haha
Megan, it's a fascinating display. I've seen it twice over the years.
Anonymous writes:
i wish i got to mate like a slug
Be careful what you wish for. If they can't untangle one of them has its appendage bitten off!
Anonymous writes:
This was going on in my backyard tonight! Your website explained it all to me… thank you!!
Glad to be able to explain it. Leopard slug mating is certainly one of the oddest sights you are ever likely to witness in your garden.