Leopard Slug Limax maximus

The Leopard Slug is a large, grey or grey-brown slug usually with leopard spots or rosettes. It is beneficial to gardens.

It is native to most of Europe and has been introduced elsewhere. Usually it has black spots on the upper front half (including flanks) and dark stripes along the back end, with an unmarked, cream underside (foot).

It can have leopard-type rosette patterns or spots at the front. Other variations include pinkish (with black markings), pale brown with lighter spots, plain white, plain dark brown and plain black. It can grow to some 15-20 cm long.

Nocturnal, the Leopard Slug is beneficial as it eats decaying plant and animal matter, including faeces, and it is also known to eat other slugs. It is faster than its slug prey at some 6 inches/minute (fast for a slug). It has an unusual mating method of a pair suspending themselves from a branch or similar by a thick thread of mucus and mating while dangling in the air.