FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Slugs can be found all over the world, and there are many different types of slugs.
Slugs are unique in the fact that they have no backbone. They rely on their slimy mucous from the body to protect them from predators.
Slugs also have an interesting defense mechanism. They can excrete a poisonous substance from their skin that is harmful to predators. But one of the most interesting things about slugs is their nose, or should we say noses! Strangely enough, they have a peculiar attraction towards beer!
Slugs are creatures that are often misunderstood. Though they may not be the most attractive creatures, they are still interesting and important animals in the ecosystem. So the next time you see a slug, take a closer look and appreciate them for the unique creatures that they are.
If something resembles a snail but lacks a shell, it's commonly referred to as a slug. Many distantly related gastropods. the group that includes snails and slugs, have separately acquired a sluggy, shell-free morphology. As a result, there is no one, evolutionary unique slug lineage. To confuse matters further, many slugs actually have shells; they're simply buried within the slugs' bodies.
Various taxonomic families of land slugs are members of several distinct evolutionary lineages that also include snails. Despite apparent similarities in general body structure, the various slug groups are not closely related. As a result of the shell-less condition arising numerous times independently as an example of convergent evolution, the category 'slug' is polyphyletic.
So the next time you see a slug, take a closer look, you might be surprised by what you find!
Slugs actually have two noses; one on their head and one on their tail. The nose on the head is used for smelling, while the nose on the tail is used for breathing. Slugs use both of their noses to smell and breathe, and they can even smell with their eyes! This allows slugs to find food and mates and helps them to avoid predators.
Slugs cannot detect color or shape as well as humans can, but they can distinguish between bright and dark hues. Despite the fact that the slug's eyes are fully developed, they lack a complicated mechanism of focusing.
They have the ability to retract their eye tentacles in order to shield their eyes from possibly hazardous contact.
Slugs and snails have two nostrils, one on top of their heads and one on the bottom of their tails. The nose on the head is used to smell, whilst the nose on the tail is used to breathe. Slugs smell and breathe using both of their noses, and they can even smell with their eyes.
Slugs and snails have a sharp sense of smell. To keep your farm slug free, subscribe to a slug fence program. They are your perfect answer to your problem. Experts place a fence around and place traps for the slugs. Also after repeated intervals, they collect and remove the slugs to protect your farm or garden.
Slugs and snails don't have ears or noses like humans, yet they can smell and perceive some noises through vibration. For these senses, they employ either their eye tentacles or two smaller tentacles beneath the eye tentacles. To know the taste and touch, slugs use their lower tentacles.
Slugs are very different from other insects or animals.
Slugs and snails have a strong sense of odor. They can smell beer from a long distance away. Slugs should be able to detect beer at distances of at least 295 ft (90 m) and maybe up to 590 ft (180 m). It's believed they like beer and are attracted to the smell. To help ward off slugs from your garden, various traps are used to keep the farms or gardens free from slugs. If left unprotected, slugs are likely to eat your entire veggie patch, or at least ruin most of them. If you install a slug fence, make sure you keep it closed all the time to keep your garden protected.
A slug or snail moves their body by contracting its muscles in repetitive waves at the bottom of its foot. Simultaneously, a coating of mucus is released, which aids in the slug's movement across the ground.
Slugs and snails have two retractable tentacles on the back of their heads. The tips of the higher, optic tentacles feature light-sensitive eyespots. Each eye-stalk can move independently and, if lost, can regrow. The eye-stalks are also used to detect odors. Two smaller tentacles for feeling and taste are located lower on the slug's face. These tentacles house the rasping mouth pieces that will munch through your lettuce seeds. Slugs consume via a radula, which is a rasping, tongue-like organ coated in hundreds of tiny tooth-like protrusions known as denticles.
Slugs, on the other hand, have tens of thousands of teeth. These tiny chompers are part of a radula, a rasping feature found only in mollusks. And, if that isn't strange enough, slugs breathe through a blowhole on one side of their bodies. This circular orifice is referred to as a pneumostome.
However, this is only the anatomy of land-dwelling slugs. Sea slugs have their own unique characteristics. Some, for example, breathe through delicate feather-like gills and smell through neon-colored, oddly shaped rhinophores.
You can subscribe to a local channel to learn more about these small creatures. They can spoil your plants until there's nothing left in your garden!
https://www.rd.com/list/animal-trivia/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/91588/10-slippery-facts-about-slugs
http://sciencewows.ie/blog/slugs-and-snails-and-puppy-dog-tails/
http://www.allaboutslugs.com/slug-and-snail-science/slug-anatomy/
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.