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Giant fluorescent pink slug lives on an extinct volcano

Giant fluorescent pink slug (Triboniophorus aff. graeffei)

The giant fluorescent pink slug (Triboniophorus aff. graeffei) that only lives on an extinct volcano in Australia is under severe threat of global warming. The slug grows up to 8 inches long and lives in a small forest at Mount Kaputar’s peak where it has no predators.

Millions of years ago, when Australia was part of a larger landmass known as Gondwana, the terrain was characterized by lush rainforests. A volcanic eruption 17 million years ago on Mount Kaputar kept a small, 10 sq.km. area lush and wet even as much of Australia turned to desert.

The slugs spend most of their time buried beneath the leaf mould on which they feed, but come out in the hundreds by night or after a rain shower to snack on tree moss.