Ariolimax columbianus, or the Pacific Banana Slug is a species of slug found on the Pacific coast of North America.[1] They can grow up to a size of 25 cm. As of 2019[update] it is the most commonly observed species in the genus Ariolimax on the citizen science website iNaturalist.[2] An important function of this particular species is the role it plays in seed dispersion.[3]
| Pacific Banana Slug | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Ariolimacidae |
| Genus: | Ariolimax |
| Species: | A. columbianus
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| Binomial name | |
| Ariolimax columbianus (Gould, 1851)
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Distribution
The Pacific banana slug is found from Alaska, United States and British Columbia, Canada in the north down through Idaho, Washington, and Oregon to Southern California, with the highest concentration in California. They are the only species of the genus Ariolimax that are found outside of California. They are found in moist and damp areas of the forest floor.
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Mantle, note the prominent pneumostome -
Tail, note full length foot fringe and keel
References
- ^ Thomas, Kristen. "Ariolimax columbianus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ "Observations: Ariolimax". iNaturalist.org. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Gervais, J., Traveset, A., Willson, M. (1998). “The Potential for Seed Dispersal by the Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)”. The American Midland Naturalist. Vol. 140. Is. 1. Pp. 103-110.