Fluorescent pink slug, unique to Australian mountaintop, survives bushfires

[FfFfFfFF 58,119]

A fluorescent pink slug, found only on a single mountaintop in northern New South Wales, has survived the bushfires that burnt through much of its alpine habitat.

The mountain they live on was formed by a now-extinct volcano, and is home to at least 20 species of snails and slugs found nowhere else in the world. The area has been identified as an endangered ecological community, the first of its kind in Australia.

Some of the fluorescent slugs would have managed to survive the fire because they had “retreated into rock crevices” in the heat, the Australian Museum malacologist Frank Köhler said. Much of the slug’s food sources – fungi, moss and mould – would also have been burnt by the fire, but Köhler said these species should recover relatively quickly. In coming months the slug might be at risk of being seen more easily in the burnt landscape by hungry birds and mammals, said Köhler, but the bright colour could also act as a warning to dissuade the predators.

The unmistakable slug is a “poster boy for snails and slugs” because of its distinctive colour, Köhler said, but it comes with a number of other species that are similarly threatened by the fires that don’t get the same attention.

Source and full article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/28/fluorescent-pink-slug-unique-to-australian-mountaintop-survives-bushfires

[Illundressyou 447]

That slug is fierce, this is great news

[LeJudas 6,490]

The slug is resistant against fire types

[LateToCult 41,843]

She said humans and their climate change weren’t going to stop her from SERVING.

[not Chromatica 5,393]

Fluorescent Australian mountaintop slug confirmed for LG6! Love the Valentine's theme that's going on!

[Notget 502]

She has a cute belly button!

[ShayCristoforo 10,607]

But just because it burns, doesn't mean you're gonna die
You gotta get up and try, and try, and try
#p!nkslug

[Awakened M 3,238]

Come through, Slugma!

[ice bear 1]

Just now, Awakened M said:

Come through, Slugma!

i came here to say dat

[Guest]

SlugGa is serving here omg