In studying nature, a commonly recurring pattern is the sequence of events whereby one thing leads to another to the point where eventually one finds oneself studying something totally unexpected yet enjoying it immensely. Take the chain of events that led to the photo below.
I enjoy nature study so I subscribe to the advanced alert for the PBS program NOVA. Last week I was informed through this alert that the upcoming program was a biographical presentation about the eminent naturalist E.O. Wilson titled “Lord of the Ants.” Wilson is, of course, by formal education an entomologist. Listening to his reflections on entomology I went in search of additional information on the subject, including any Podcasts that might be on-line. I discovered the InsectaPod Cast, downloaded, and listened to all seven episodes. This in turn prompted me to observe more closely the things I noted crawling about on the ground during any time spent out-of-doors. This still being the rainy season here in the Pacific Northwest, just as many gastropods are often noticed as insects.
Thus it was that the other morning I found myself on my knees behind our home photographing what many locals half-jokingly refer to as the alternate state bird of Oregon – the Pacific Banana Slug, Ariolimax columbianus.
The Pacific Banana Slug differs from the other two commonly known Banana Slugs, the California Banana Slug, Ariolimax californicus, and the Slender Banana Slug, Ariolimax dolichophallus (by the way gents – if anyone should at some time refer to you as dolichophallic, take it as a compliment), in that it is heavily spotted with dark patches rather than wholly yellow and representative of its name. As my wife’s recipe for banana bread (quite scrumptious, by the way) calls for “well aged” bananas, also heavily coated with dark spots, perhaps the Pacific Banana Slug might be better referred to as the Pacific Banana Bread Slug – but then no one would ever eat banana bread again, so perhaps the name might be best left as it is.
Peace and good bird watching.
