Summary
A banana slug glides on a trail of slime it makes itself. Deep Look zooms in on the amazing mucus that lets the slug crawl, stick, stay moist, and even numb a predator's mouth.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
A banana slug's slime does many jobs at once: it lets the slug glide, grip, keep from drying out, and taste bad to predators. One structure, many survival uses.
- Name two different jobs a banana slug's slime does for it.
- Why would a soft, moist animal need a way to stay wet?
- How can the same slime help the slug move AND protect it?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: mucus, slime, glide, protect.
Try it: Rub a dab of hand lotion between your fingers and slide them. Write how a slippery layer could help a slug move and stay moist.