8-inch Long, Pink Slug Discovered in NSW

**kellyhound** · #1 ● 06-02-2013, 12:29 PM

Home of some of the world's most unique wildlife, Australia can add another new creature to its list of strange creatures: an 8-inch long, hot pink slug.

The existence of the slugs on Mount Kaputar, a 5,000-foot peak in New South Wales, has just recently been confirmed.

Locals had long reported seeing the strange slugs after rainfall, but taxonimists have now just verified that Triboniophorus aff. graeffei is unique to the mountain's alpine forest.

Scientists believe that the bright pink slugs are survivors from an era when eastern Australia was home to rainforests.

If a volcano had not erupted in the area millions of years ago, the creatures would have likely died out.

Researchers say that because of that eruption, the mountain is a haven for invertebrates and plant species that have been isolated for millions of years, after the continent dried out and the rainforests receded.

During the night, the slugs crawl up trees to feed on mold and moss.

Because fallen eucalyptus leaves are red, they help hide the slugs from predators.