Slugs Mating

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It may look like a jousting tournament, but these two slugs are about to mate.

Slug sex is a messy business.  The two slugs circle each other for some time, eyeing each other up, and at the same time producing a big puddle of slime.

Slugs are 'hermaphrodites', which basically means they have both male and female sex organs. The two slugs inject each other with sperm, and both slugs become impregnated.

They lay their eggs under stones and logs, where they will remain moist.  Each tiny pearl-like egg hatches after about four weeks.