Retford's Redwoods

Redwoods
A tiny seed falls softly to the forest floor
It rises to the sky slowly reaching for the sun
passing time
in the misty foggy forest on the California coast
slowly decomposing taking its time.

The Great Decomposer -- the Banana Slug

Along the coast, amongst the forest giants lives a large gastropoda, known as the Banana Slug. These large slugs can get as large as 12 inches. They are not always yellow, they can vary in coloration from yellow to slate green to white. These animals have a pnuemostone, which is a small opening which leads to a small lung. They can also breathe through their skin, so long as it remains moist. Their slime also serves as protection. It has an offensive taste to some predators. Banana slug slime also helps this animal move. The path it leaves behind helps other banana slugs make connections, which is very useful during mating season. Some their favorite foods are decomposing vegetation and fungus. They make a great dinner for garter snakes, ducks, geese, shrews, moles, crows and even salanaders. Racoons like to eat their slugs rolled in dirt to cut the slime.

Retford's Redwoods

Save The Redwoods League

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

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The Great Decomposer -- the Banana Slug

Banana Slug by Karen Retford