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Call: Mount Kaputar pink slug (Triboniophorus sp. nov. ‘Kaputar’ or Triboniophorus aff. graeffei
Where it lives: Mount Kaputar, New South Wales, Australia
What it consumes: Algae, moss, mushrooms, mold
Why it’s amazing: Not all slugs mix into the background. Some, like the striking Mount Kaputar slug, stand apart from the crowd. These slimy animals not just mature to 8 inches (20 centimeters) long, they likewise have dynamic, neon-red bodies that are tough to miss out on.
These distinct hot-pink slugs are discovered just on an extinct volcano called Mount Kaputar, living at an elevation of around 4,900 feet (1,500 meters). Kaputar is surrounded by dry plains, periodic rain and snow over the mountain develop a “sky island” — a separated highland environment with special plants and animals.
Related: Blue dragon: The fatal sea slug that takes venom from its victim
A volcanic eruption 17 million years ago developed this high-altitude location, where these vibrant slugs have actually stayed separated for countless years.
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The slugs have actually resided in seclusion on Mount Kaputar for countless years. (Image credit: Steve Waters/Getty Images)
Kaputar slugs relate to red triangle slugs (Triboniophorus graeffeithat reside in eastern Australia however are an unique types. Their striking color is an evolutionary secret, however it is most likely connected to their separated environment.
The pink color might originate from pigments in their diet plan, or it might assist them camouflage themselves amongst fallen red eucalyptus or snow gum leaves. It might likewise function as a kind of aposematism– a defense mechanism that cautions predators that an animal or plant is unappetizing or hazardous. It’s not understood whether Kaputar slugs are harmful, so the hot pink color might be a technique to prevent predators like birds or feral pigs.
Throughout the day, Kaputar slugs conceal in plant litter at the base of trees, emerging in the evening to climb up the trees’ trunks searching for algae and moss.
As much as 90% of the population was believed to have actually been lost in the 2019 Australian bushfires, however these slugs rebounded after cooler, wetter conditions stimulated mass breedingIt’s believed that a variety of the slugs most likely likewise made it through the fires by taking sanctuary underground or in rock crevices.
Like numerous slugs, pink Kaputars play an essential function in their regional community by breaking down fallen leaves into nutrient-rich soil, promoting healthy plant development.
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