Leopard Slug Limax maximus Linnaeus, 1758Non-native    Synonyms: European Garden Slug, Great Gray Slug.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Mollusca   >   Class Gastropoda   >   Order Stylommatophora   >   Family Limacidae   >   Genus Limax   

Status:

This is one of the largest and most striking of the world's slugs. Considered native to Europe and parts of Africa, it has been widely introduced in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Occurs around developed areas throughout North America. Exact arrival date unknown, but recorded as common in Philadelphia by 1867 (Norden & Williams, 2015).

Relationships:

Feeds mainly on vegetable matter, but has been reported to occasionally be cannibalistic or carnivorous. Documented preying upon emerging Magicicada septendecim during Brood X emergence in 1987 and 2004. (Norden & Williams, 2015)

There are 422 records in the project database.

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Leopard Slug in Howard Co., Maryland (7/23/2016). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Howard Co., Maryland (7/23/2016). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/3/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/20/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/2/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/2/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Howard Co., Maryland (7/27/2017). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Howard Co., Maryland (6/27/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs in Howard Co., Maryland (7/27/2017). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/5/2015). Photo by Tim Schreckengost. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Cumberland, Maryland (8/21/2013). The hole in its side is called a pneumostome and is used for breathing. Photo by Matt Tillett. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/26/2018). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/24/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Howard Co., Maryland (8/25/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/29/2023). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/16/2015). Photo by Andrew Clemens. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/11/2013). Photo by Benjamin DeHaven. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (7/15/2016). Photo by Lori Byrne. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/10/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/6/2018). (c) David, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by David via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/10/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Dorchester Co., Maryland (8/28/2015). Photo by Heather Knapp. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs in Kent Co., Maryland (9/1/2013). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/10/2022). (c) Stella Tea, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stella Tea (stazandgazer) via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Howard Co., Maryland (9/25/2012). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Harford Co., Maryland (7/26/2014). Photo by Joshua Jones. (MBP list)

Leopard Slugs mating in Wicomico Co., Maryland (8/10/2013). Photo by Bill Cecil. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug in Montgomery Co., Maryland (11/3/2013). Photo by Max Wilson. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/11/2020). (c) ccsh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by ccsh via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug found by students at Jemicy School in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/28/2014). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Leopard Slug laying eggs in Howard Co., Maryland (11/8/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/21/2021). (c) melonsnature, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by melonsnature via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Leopard Slug in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/3/2022). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)


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