Identify a slug - body parts

Spotter guide

Use this spotter guide to identify all the body parts of a slug. Why not use this to help you identify the slugs you find in your school garden. 

  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Location: Outdoors
  • School term: All year round
  • Level of experience: No experience needed

Learning objectives

  • To identify the different body parts of a slug
  • To explore and encourage the use of technical vocabulary
  1. Shell: some slug species have a visible shell

  2. Breathing pore (pneumostome)
  3. Markings on mantle
  4. Tentacles: the upper ones contain the eyes
  5. Sole: the underside of the slug
  6. Foot fringe: the edge of the foot may be striped or plain
  7. Stripes and spots: coloured patterns on slugs
  8. Keel: a ridge along the top of the back (shown in cross section)
  9. Tail tip: steep slope (truncated) or gradual slope
  10. Mucus: slugs and snails secrete this to protect them and help them move
  11. Tubercles: coarse tubercles are rough wrinkles. Fine tubercles mean a smoother slug
  12. Contracted body: dome shape. When resting or alarmed slugs pull their body into a tight shape