The banana slug is named for its resemblance to a ripe (or overripe, in the case of spotted individuals) banana. It’s one of the slowest creatures on Earth, moving at a maximum speed of six and a half inches per minute. The gastropod has one lung, one foot, and no spine.

The slug is native to the dense, moist forest floors of the Pacific Northwest, ranging from Central California to Alaska. One subspecies, the Pacific banana slug, can grow up to 9 inches long, making it the second-largest slug in the world.

The banana slug is often bright yellow, though it can be brown, white, and green. Like all slugs, banana slugs use four tentacles to sense their environment. A pair