#50453: Jeff — 11/23  at  01:37 PM
I would really appreciate learning more about what makes up the slime that envelops slugs, or even more about slugs in general. I have handled more than my share of the lovely little beasties, (I have a water turtle that is possessed with a penchant for slug soufflé,) and the residual slime left on my fingers is tougher to scrub off than super glue.

#50463: — 11/23  at  02:31 PM
There's a similar depiction (in much better resolution, detail, and color) in the film "Microcosmos" that is just absolutely stunning. It's actually erotic in a really odd sort of way.

And slugs creep me out a bit, so that's saying something.

#50464: — 11/23  at  02:49 PM
I'll remember this video next time some woman complains about me dozing off after sex.

Clearly, there are worse ways for coitus to end ...

#50469: — 11/23  at  03:05 PM
eeew! Right before Thanksgiving?!

#50473: — 11/23  at  03:31 PM
"They're blue, and long, and prehensile, and beautiful!"

Drop out the second "and" and it scans for the opening of The Girl from Ipanema. Draw what conclusions you will.

#50474: Milo Johnson — 11/23  at  03:40 PM
Slug penises and mucus ropes.

Boy, and we HUMAN males think we don't get enough head...

#50476: — 11/23  at  04:09 PM
That is absolutely gorgeous! Thank you.

#50480: Roger B. — 11/23  at  04:25 PM
I've just watched the first programme in the BBC's "Life in the Undergrowth" series, in which the mating leopard slugs sequence appeared.

Some of the photography of insects and millipedes was absolutely stunning. The depth of focus makes it look unreal, almost like computer animation. The next programme is all about flight, with some amazing slow motion shots. Too good to miss!

#50481: — 11/23  at  04:36 PM
Just finished watching the first episode of David Attenborough's latest series Life in the Undergrowth which included the sequence of leopard slugs mating. I can't say I've been a great fan of bugs, creepy-crawlies and slimy things but this show was absolutely fascinating and, in its way, quite beautiful. Inveterate invertebratists will love it.

#50482: jillian — 11/23  at  04:47 PM
Holy Mole.

Cyber Slick Slug Sex.

#50485: — 11/23  at  05:12 PM
The show was fantastic. The photography was breathtaking. Every hour-long episode ends with a ten-minute 'making of' piece. For non-Brits that's an hour without any breaks or interruptions.

This series alone justifies the licence fee.

#50489: Ben — 11/23  at  06:13 PM
Sooo mucousy... *drool gargle*

I'll never understand why Mr. Praline is so reticent at the prospect of replacing his boring Norwegian Blue with a slug in the Parrot Sketch. Even if it doesn't talk.

#50496: Lemony — 11/23  at  07:51 PM
Just to second Chaz's point, it's shows like this which make me genuinely rather proud of the BBC, long may it continue to fascinate and astound me.

#50515: — 11/23  at  09:56 PM
Just to clarify, my comment about the picture quality above was referring to the streaming video available at the link.

Sounds like the BBC broadcast itself had top notch photography. No slight to the BBC intended.

#50535: mrsfalcon — 11/23  at  11:47 PM
Thank you - that was awesome!

#50536: — 11/23  at  11:48 PM
Slug penises, plural? "Each has been fertilized" by the other? What kinda pree-verted, unnatural, multisexual message are we sending to our kids with this stuff? Did those sinful hermaphroditic slugs join in holy matrimony before they started "sliding down the mucus?" Now, *penguins* on the other hand - there's a godly relationship.

Oh....oh...I see...right. Never mind.

Seriously - what a wonderful piece of film. Evolution is beautiful.

#50543: — 11/24  at  01:45 AM
Lovely. The Kama Sutra has nothing on this twisty turning entwining entangling dance.

#50544: — 11/24  at  02:06 AM
I wonder if David Attenborough's national treasure status in Britain - a recent profile said that if we abolished the monarchy and elected a president and Attenborough put his name forward, all the other contenders might as well give up there and then - is at least a contributing factor towards our far greater willingness to... well, not so much accept evolution as simply take it for granted.

There has been at least one article damning Attenborough for unaccountably failing to mention God (it was in the Sunday Telegraph circa 1995-6, by the historian Paul Johnson), but in general we're quite happy to accept Attenborough's own pronouncements as the secular equivalent of Biblical edicts. And given the overwhelming evidence he's been supplying for decades, it's hard to see why anyone would feel differently.

(I too watched Life in the Undergrowth, and PZ hasn't seen anything yet! And yes, the BBC broadcast did have top-notch photography - doubly astounding given the explanation that this series would have been impossible to make even a few years ago for technical reasons, a key problem being that the subjects either died under the lights or behaved so erratically that the resulting footage was worthless).

#50545: Martin Wisse — 11/24  at  02:41 AM
Let me join the chorus of voices praising Life int he Undergrowth: beautiful, beautiful cinematography, and awesome creatures on display. If you have the chance, do not hesitate to download it from your local bittorrent server...

#50546: Martin Wisse — 11/24  at  02:58 AM
Incidently, the thrill I get from this series: seeing beautiful, interesting or exotic creatures as alien as anything the best s-f writers have been able to dream up, living right here on Earth is also why I read Pharyngula and simular biology/science based blogs.

Especially when y'all talk about squids.

#50547: Mark — 11/24  at  03:17 AM
The first programme was breathtaking with the slug mating being the beautiful highlight. I'm not a fan of our insect overlords and am arachnophobic too but when the BBC and Attenborough get together you just have to watch regardless. As Martin said, watching the aliens here on Earth is thrilling. When the giant centipede grabbed the bat out of mid air and began feasting I was reminded of Giger's facehugger.

#50548: — 11/24  at  03:41 AM
Attenborough is brilliant, and as he always compliments them, his camera crews are brilliant too. I never fail to be amazed by his series, and am thoroughly looking forward to his next one - Life in Cold blood, which may well be his last (he is 79 now)

#50550: — 11/24  at  04:02 AM
Paul Johnson is a nutter. They don't call him Loonybins for nothing.

I managed to miss all but the last quarter hour of the documentary. Are they repeating it later in the week?

#50551: — 11/24  at  04:05 AM
Let me just de-lurk a moment to add my endorsement of the programme. Superb. Not only slug porn, but a three-in-a-bed millipede romp, too. And no kow-towing, ever, from Sir David to the forces of ignorance; no playing down or "forgetting to mention" the best explanation we currently have for the diversity of Life On Earth (hey, that would make a good title for a series).

#50552: — 11/24  at  05:08 AM
Absolutely stunning photography!

But I am puzzled... Attenborough describes the 'male' organs, and how they extend, intertwine, flower out, etc., then ends with 'and now each has been fertilized', but never mentions a female counterpart... How does this work?? Is the 'organ' both male and female? Or does the sperm somehow get conveyed to the ovum via some sort of duct? Or are they just so alien that my expectations are meaningless?

Can anyone clarify?