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Re: snails and slugs

Meg,

On the US west coast, we have a slug that "desexes" itself.  *Ariolimax 
columbiana*, the native banana slug very frequently gnaws off its own 
phallus at the end of mating.  By the end of mating season for these 
slugs, there's a decided shortage of functional males among these 
hermaphrodites... one can only imagine the chatter in banana slug singles 
bars!  The phallus is regenerated by the following year.  Since 
slugologists use the reproductive anatomy to classify their beasts, the 
variations resulting from amputation and regrowth led to a proliferation 
of latin synonyms for these beasts.

Our other native slug, *Prophysaon andersoni* is into self-mutilation 
also.  This smaller slug has a detachable "tail" much like a lizard which 
is detached by the slug if a predator [beetles, mostly] grasps it.

Fascinating natural history, only spoiled by the nasty European slugs 
that have taken over our gardens.

Loren Russell, Corvallis, Oregon
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