Adventure 090 - Banana Slug

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 090 – Banana Slug

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  June 20, 2012

Location: Big Basin

Description:
What can one say about the lowly Ariolimax columbianus ? Well actually, there is a lot more you can say. First, this species is one of the Cat in the Hat's favorite animals. After all, she did graduate from UC Santa Cruz, whose mascot is the Banana Slug. She was so overjoyed to hear that Capture California had an Adventure with a Banana Slug she wondered out loud, is it against the rules to put salt on these slugs before or after the picture? But alas, being in a state park, it is always against the rules. So no salted banana slug for the Cat.

Now you may want more information—I sort of doubt it, but it is coming anyway. Banana slugs are detritivores—there is no need to say that the lowly slug will decompose anything dropped onto the forest floor-whether the droppings come from trees or animals, it is all the same to these little slime balls. They are regular fertilization machines. So next time you come across one of these long yellow slugs, look down in respect for it and then run. After all, if you stick around too long, you could be next!