Black Slugs (Arion ater)
As their slimy bodied suggest, Black Slugs are related to snails, but over millions of years their shells have been lost. In fact, they do have shells but they are now inside their bodies. They are usually black but they sometimes are much lighter. They are very common in Britain.
Habitats
Black Slug are found in all kind of places, including parks, meadows and gardens, and are often unwelcome by gardeners.
Behaviour
Black Slugs move like snails, made possible by their muscular bodies. As they don’t have a shell they have evolved foul tasting mucus to deter predators. When touched they also curl up into a ball and begin to rock from side to side, which confuses predators.
Breeding
Like snails, Black Slugs have male and female reproductive organs. After mating, the slug lays small eggs, preferably in a dark, cold, damp place such as compost heaps.
Feeding
Black Slugs eat a variety of things, including eating fungi, living and dead plants and even dead animals.