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• Limax cinereoniger Wolf 1803 Ash-black slug

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© Dr Roy Anderson

© Dr Roy Anderson

© Dr Roy Anderson

© Dr Roy Anderson

A very large slug, body with grey to mid brown ground colour and two faint lateral bands on each side. Similar in habits and appearance to dark forms of L. maximus but generally darker and adults are rarely spotted or banded and usually have a contrasting paler keel. The sole differs in being tripartite with pale central and contrasting dark outer zones. Widespread but local in old woods.

Key characteristics

• A very large, dark slug with tripartite sole - black or dark grey on either side and white down the middle
• Keel about ⅔ the distance from mantle to tail, pale, whitish or yellowish
• Tentacles obscurely spotted brownish or grayish
• Juveniles have uniformly pale soles and are usually a warm buff colour with broken, dark, lateral bands
• Breathing pore at rear of the mantle
• Mantle with shallow concentric grooves centred on the back

Size

150-200 mm.

World Distribution

There is a complex of related species in Europe so the true range is difficult to determine. Possibly Europe-wide except the extreme north and extreme south. Distribution type: European Wide-temperate (63).

GBIF distribution map [open in new tab]

Irish Distribution

Local and comparatively rare in Ireland, but apparently widespread. Less rare in northern counties possibly due to differences in forestry practes between N. Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

Ecology

• Mostly recorded from old, minimally disturbed broadleaf woodlands
• Also on cliffs with relic woodland vegetation on western coasts
• Underplanting broadleaf woods with conifers (practised in RoI) is probably harmful

Red List status

• Vulnerable (VU).

Wikipedia link

Wikipedia page for Limax cinereoniger