Banana Slug

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Banana Slug
By Kristen Thomas
Animal Diversity Web
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology

Habitat
Banana Slugs live in the floors of forests in the Pacific Northwest. Because they respire through their skin, Banana Slugs require a moist environment to live. Banana Slugs serve as decomposers in forests. They break down plant materials. They also spread seeds and spores while eating. They spend much of their time during the day in moist, dark areas like under logs or other forest debris. (Branson 1996, Hill 1997)

Food Habits
Banana Slugs are herbivores. They eat leaves, dead plant materials, fungi, and animal droppings. Banana Slugs favor mushrooms over other foods. Banana Slugs eat their food using their radula. A radula is made up of many rows of teeth used for grinding up food particles. (Branson 1996, Hill 1997, Grzimek 1972)

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