Banana slugs belong to the genus Ariolimax. There are three different species, one of which also contains two sub-species. Ariolimax columbianus ranges up most of the west coast and is the largest group. Banana slugs are divided into species and sub-species based mainly on genital structure. Morphology Banana slugs, like other land slugs, use their muscular foot located on the ventral surface for locamotion.
Banana slugs have two sets of tentacles.
The upper, longer pair are optic tenticles with eyes located on the end. The lower tentacles are sensory organs and are shorter than the optic tentacles. Inside the mouth, which is ventral and caudal to the sensory tentacles, is a radula, a feeding organ present in many mollusks. The odontophore, which has muscle and cartilage, functions to support the radula. The mantle covers the front of the back beginning at the back of the head.