Ibycus rachelae, “Ninja Slug”
Description – Semislug.
At great altitudes on Borneo, several rare and highly endemic species have recently been discovered, including one new colourful green and yellow slug species, Ibycus rachelae. This unusual slug has been nick named “ninja slug” because it makes use of so-called ‘love darts’ in courtship. Made of calcium carbonate, the love dart is harpoon-like which pierces and injects a hormone into a mate, and may play a role in increasing the chances of reproduction.
For more information about this slug or the other wonderful newly discovered creatures, please visit the WWF Heart of Borneo websites at http://wwf.panda.org or www.wwf.nl.
Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Menno Schilthuizen (one of the discoverers of this slug) for letting us repost his photo.
originally posted on slugblog May 1, 2010
Description – Semislug.
At great altitudes on Borneo, several rare and highly endemic species have recently been discovered, including one new colourful green and yellow slug species, Ibycus rachelae. This unusual slug has been nick named “ninja slug” because it makes use of so-called ‘love darts’ in courtship. Made of calcium carbonate, the love dart is harpoon-like which pierces and injects a hormone into a mate, and may play a role in increasing the chances of reproduction.
For more information about this slug or the other wonderful newly discovered creatures, please visit the WWF Heart of Borneo websites at http://wwf.panda.org or www.wwf.nl.
Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Menno Schilthuizen (one of the discoverers of this slug) for letting us repost his photo.
originally posted on slugblog May 1, 2010