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Post by Admin on Jun 30, 2013 2:01:07 GMT
Article + photo of newly discovered PINK slug speciesNot sure I'd want it eating my lettuces! But then again, that's highly unlikely as its range seems extremely limited (ten square kilometres up Mount Kaputar, New South Wales, Australia). At least, by all accounts, it appears to be thriving.  I wonder what they'll choose as the species' latinized specific name. Fluoroseamurphii, maybe? That's my best effort after trying to find the latin for fluorescent (strangely, hard to find!  ) and pink (rosea). And it was discovered by a local ranger, Michael Murphy, so who knows? I'm sure someone somewhere could suggest something better but I guess we'll just have to wait and see! 2nd thoughts I quite like punkrockchic!
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Post by Thylacine on Jul 1, 2013 20:20:02 GMT
Loved the website and the slug is really neat - almost fluorescent pink-red...but it's still a slug!
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Post by Admin on Jul 1, 2013 21:03:12 GMT
How many slug species would sir consign to oblivion to bring his pet species back into being? I wouldn't give up one! "It was only a marsupial."  |
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Post by Thylacine on Jul 1, 2013 21:31:10 GMT
How many slug species would sir consign to oblivion to bring his pet species back into being? I wouldn't give up one! "It was only a marsupial." Aarrgh - you're trading species now - it's just theorectical so it matters not - but if you forced me to say. I'd loose probably about 40 slug species to get the thylacine back and in so doing would preserve vast tracts of virgin Tasmanian temperate rainforest....which is the real benefit |
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Post by Admin on Jul 1, 2013 22:03:38 GMT
The tracts of virgin Tasmanian temperate rainforest you speak of are still there at present? Or are you willing to SMITE 40 loveable slug species for one out-dated striped DINGO look-a-like and tracts of plush, virgin TTR? I could possibly go with the deal, just for the trees - if they're included! (I appreciate the benefit of shade.  ) But NOT otherwise. I don't need to invoke Godwin's law, do I? |
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Post by Thylacine on Jul 1, 2013 22:08:24 GMT
I don't need to invoke Godwin's law, do I? Which is.....?  |
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Post by Admin on Jul 1, 2013 22:17:57 GMT
Wow. You don't know? It's the likelihood that ADOLF HITLER will get mentioned in a thread once a tipping point has been reached (or something like that). Godwin's law, wikipedia |
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Post by cabbage on Jul 2, 2013 2:54:49 GMT
Slugs are ick. Fact. I've recently been helping out volunteering with some school groups on "mini beast" hunts. Kids love em, I don't!  (mind you I don't like kids much either ) Our local wildlife records centre has a project at the moment looking for sightings of leopard slugs so I can occasionally be seen out with my torch in the street after dark peering at slugs. Neighbours must think I'm mental. |
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Post by Admin on Jul 2, 2013 23:54:07 GMT
I don't know what the fuss is with slugs. Obviously, they're a garden pest (like their look-a-likes, snails) but it's not as if they spread diseases. Presumably frogs or birds will take them and a few other species (now that I've just checked). I think I even tried piking with one once, after running out of bait. Do snails make you squirm as well, cabbage? I'm guessing: no. |
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Post by cabbage on Jul 3, 2013 0:31:25 GMT
I don't know what the fuss is with slugs. Obviously, they're a garden pest (like their look-a-likes, snails) but it's not as if they spread diseases. Presumably frogs or birds will take them and a few other species (now that I've just checked). I think I even tried piking with one once, after running out of bait. Do snails make you squirm as well, cabbage? I'm guessing: no. Nope I'm fine with snails... In fact I spent a whole afternoon photographing snails a couple of weeks ago I find all sorts of bugs a bit ick, I don't like worms, grubs or maggots either though I'm slowly getting a bit better due to exposure to them via volunteering. It can't be denied that 'minibeasts' are a great gateway drug for getting kids hooked on nature I guess the fuss about them is purely cultural conditioning. They maybe don't spread disease but you spend a lot of your childhood being told they're 'dirty' and not to touch them! (or at least I did!) Like most phobias or dislikes they come down to your childhood learning and your first exposure to them. There's also historical learned revulsion due to them being associated with spoiled food. |
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julie
New Member
Posts: 14 
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Post by julie on Aug 2, 2013 20:31:19 GMT
I feel I have to say my bit for slugs here. First of all they aren't all pests - some of them actually eat other slugs. Like the one cabbage has been looking for: www.opalexplorenature.org/LeopardSlug. Secondly, did you know that the only new species discovered in the UK in the last 10 years was a slug? Although first found in Wales, the ghost slug is actually probably an introduced species (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_slug). Its sciency name is Selenochlamys ysbryda, ysbryda means ghost in Welsh, I think so far the only latin name with Welsh origin. So slugs aren't all bad! |
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Fossa
Junior Member
Posts: 77
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Post by Fossa on Aug 3, 2013 20:10:22 GMT
Interesting facts, Julie. I didn't know that!  |
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) and pink (rosea). And it was discovered by a local ranger, Michael Murphy, so who knows?
)
(mind you I don't like kids much either 
