Evolutian, they’re Triboniophorus graeffei, Red Triangle Slugs. This photo was taken in our garden on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia.
Interestingly, the specimens found on the other side of our suburb (on the other side of a train line and a freeway) tend to be grey and rather warty in texture, whereas ours are white and smooth. Seems that there is some genetic variation afoot.
LisaJsays
Those guys are awesome! So cool looking… and so sweet.
mikespeirsays
I thought I was looking in the mirror, but then I noticed there was no tree behind me.
Blenstersays
I think those slugs are thinking Arby’s… ;-) Almost looks like that logo…
The wonderful species* (one of our very few native slugs) occurs along the east coast. It comes in a variety of colour forms, including a red one on Mt Kaputar in northern NSW and a bright orange one from Mt Bellenden Ker in Queensland’s Wet Tropics. (Not my photos but from the gallery associated with this blog.)
* Likely to be more than one.
Artsays
I’m assuming those are pina-colada flavored with cherry centers.
Julie Stahlhutsays
They’re beautiful! And the photo would look great on a Valentine’s Day card!
Does that imply the E word might be reasonably construed as a process in action Margaret?
Nangleatorsays
I don’t see enough visual referents to discern the scale here. How long are those creamy beasties?
Timsays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EQtrW2 Yes, I know “I am the slime” reflects unfairly on the slugs, but it’s what came to mind. And the local slugs seem mundane in comparison.
Chris Davissays
Much more of these explicit images of slimy spineless dickheads en flagrante, and the Australian NetNazis will put Pharyngula on their kill-list.
aratinasays
Those ones actually look tasty.
Sven DiMilosays
I find your recent emphasis on pulmonate gastropods…disturbing.
blueelmsays
Awww the color is so pretty though! I wish our garden slugs were so aesthetic!
AdamKsays
Dr. Myers,
Thank you so much for the two posts on slimy repulsive slugs.
That will suffice.
“…If you go out barefoot
They will give your toes cold hugs:
Snails and slugs.”
Forget who; someone I used to hear on Dr. Demento.
Those really are gorgeous.
Grasays
“Evolutian, they’re Triboniophorus graeffei, Red Triangle Slugs. This photo was taken in our garden on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia.”
Well bugger me, I grew up in the northern suburbs of Sydney (Mt. Colah to be precise) and I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Not even a grey one with those markings.
“If given the chance, it will also remove bathroom mould.”
Hey… that’s cool! C’mon guys they’re cooler than mold!
Oldersays
Those are the most gorgeous slugs I have ever seen! I admire the many and various colors of sea slugs, but my heart belongs to the land variety. I had no idea they were so beautiful in Australia. Aside from Arion Ater (introduced from Europe) most of our guys are small, inconspicuous and gray. The banana and leopard slugs are large but nowhere near as beautiful as those Australian fellows.
You know, some people (mostly biologists, I’m sure) actually like slugs.
Gerrysays
Pffft. Love the slugs, Maggie (and hi!) but when it comes to slugs, nudie branches win hands down :)
Robert Davidson says
Yay, Aussie beasts! I see these lovely creatures near home from time to time.
Anon says
A slug with its heart on its sleeve?
mirshafie says
Wow, they look like china from the 1940s. Don’t drop, little china!
Helium Head says
Ick.
That is all.
Didac says
There are three metazoans in that photo: two slugs and one milipede.
Britomart says
What a coincidence.
On a search for something else I came across this on snails.
http://www.annexia.org/tmp/hunkin-snails-large.jpg
If I have learned three new things this morning, can I go back to sleep for a while please ?
thank you kindly
EVolutiAN says
Wow, I’ve never seen an animal look so…creamy.
Genus and species, anyone?
Sili says
And just like that my desire to steal away the Trophy Wife disappeared.
Yuck!
Margaret Morgan says
Evolutian, they’re Triboniophorus graeffei, Red Triangle Slugs. This photo was taken in our garden on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia.
Interestingly, the specimens found on the other side of our suburb (on the other side of a train line and a freeway) tend to be grey and rather warty in texture, whereas ours are white and smooth. Seems that there is some genetic variation afoot.
LisaJ says
Those guys are awesome! So cool looking… and so sweet.
mikespeir says
I thought I was looking in the mirror, but then I noticed there was no tree behind me.
Blenster says
I think those slugs are thinking Arby’s… ;-) Almost looks like that logo…
Great picture…
Felix says
Is that a peeping tom millipede?
Galbinus_Caeli says
Being Australian beasties, they must be poisonous. How far can they jump and how quickly will you die after they sting you?
Snail says
The wonderful species* (one of our very few native slugs) occurs along the east coast. It comes in a variety of colour forms, including a red one on Mt Kaputar in northern NSW and a bright orange one from Mt Bellenden Ker in Queensland’s Wet Tropics. (Not my photos but from the gallery associated with this blog.)
* Likely to be more than one.
Art says
I’m assuming those are pina-colada flavored with cherry centers.
Julie Stahlhut says
They’re beautiful! And the photo would look great on a Valentine’s Day card!
Logicel says
A melted candy cane?
Strangebrew says
*09
Does that imply the E word might be reasonably construed as a process in action Margaret?
Nangleator says
I don’t see enough visual referents to discern the scale here. How long are those creamy beasties?
Tim says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EQtrW2 Yes, I know “I am the slime” reflects unfairly on the slugs, but it’s what came to mind. And the local slugs seem mundane in comparison.
Chris Davis says
Much more of these explicit images of slimy spineless dickheads en flagrante, and the Australian NetNazis will put Pharyngula on their kill-list.
aratina says
Those ones actually look tasty.
Sven DiMilo says
I find your recent emphasis on pulmonate gastropods…disturbing.
blueelm says
Awww the color is so pretty though! I wish our garden slugs were so aesthetic!
AdamK says
Dr. Myers,
Thank you so much for the two posts on slimy repulsive slugs.
That will suffice.
Silva says
Wow, those are some strikingly beautiful slugs.
John Phillips, FCD says
Even more awesomeness.
The Biologista says
Slugs make my skin crawl. Huge, brightly-coloured slugs even more so. Bleugh.
Kieran says
Gorgeous!
Ron Sullivan says
“…If you go out barefoot
They will give your toes cold hugs:
Snails and slugs.”
Forget who; someone I used to hear on Dr. Demento.
Those really are gorgeous.
Gra says
“Evolutian, they’re Triboniophorus graeffei, Red Triangle Slugs. This photo was taken in our garden on the northern outskirts of Sydney, Australia.”
Well bugger me, I grew up in the northern suburbs of Sydney (Mt. Colah to be precise) and I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Not even a grey one with those markings.
AVSN says
Maybe its just me but the red marking looks like a lipsticked mouth.
Jadehawk says
i’m torn. they look tasty (mmm…. glazed snail with cherry topping), but they’re australian, so they’re probably venomous and/or toxic
Stewart says
They may look nice, but tbh Nudibranch just leave them in the shade.
Lets have some Nudi pics PZ.
David Marjanović, OM says
So in Australia the swans are black… and the slugs are white? Ew.
Even more so because they’re white. I’m sure some agama or other would otherwise eat it.
In flagranti. Latin.
Inky says
Pretty!!!
Margaret Morgan says
Nangelator #20, they get to around 8-10 centimetres.
Margaret Morgan says
Gra #32, We’re only a wee bit north of there. But our garden does adjoin the National Park, so that might be why we have them.
Jeanette says
Beeeautiful. I saw it in the other thread, but it’s totally deserving of its own post.
Those two look so hot that other guy’s trying to get in on the action (millipede).
SASnSA says
Somebody pass the salt.
Danielle says
Beautiful photo! Those are so much prettier than we get in the Pacific Northwest!
Danielle says
Here’s a bit about the red triangle slugs. http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=44
blueelm says
“If given the chance, it will also remove bathroom mould.”
Hey… that’s cool! C’mon guys they’re cooler than mold!
Older says
Those are the most gorgeous slugs I have ever seen! I admire the many and various colors of sea slugs, but my heart belongs to the land variety. I had no idea they were so beautiful in Australia. Aside from Arion Ater (introduced from Europe) most of our guys are small, inconspicuous and gray. The banana and leopard slugs are large but nowhere near as beautiful as those Australian fellows.
You know, some people (mostly biologists, I’m sure) actually like slugs.
Gerry says
Pffft. Love the slugs, Maggie (and hi!) but when it comes to slugs, nudie branches win hands down :)
Gerry says
Ooops: http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/07/17/nudibranchs-the-most-colorful-creatures-in-the-world/
Stewart says
Here is a pic of a Nudi I took off the UAE coast a few months ago, if you notice it is in a state of coitus with it’s friend attached to the back end.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/benzonar/Dibba/nudi2.jpg
Phrogge says
Sheesh, I come here for peace, quiet and science, and find everyone just slugging it out!