Observing God's Design
Job 12:7-10 NIV
Slime is Amazing!
(Yes, Really.)
I love taking walks in a wooded park near the river. Surrounded by such beauty and peace, I often stop to observe some aspect of creation. One creature in particular that has caught my attention is the banana slug. I never thought I’d be so intrigued by a slug. But God’s design is evident in this small creature.
I’ve seen the glistening trail that a banana slug leaves behind, but a closer look at the slime (or mucus) is quite fascinating. Slime plays multiple roles in a banana slug’s life. Here are just three.
Movement: As the banana slug crawls along, the slime sticks to both the slug’s muscular foot and the surface beneath. When the foot pushes against the ground, the slime helps provide the traction the slug needs to move forward. But that’s not all! The slime behaves differently in response to the forces of movement, so it also flows where the foot is advancing. This way, the banana slug won’t stay stuck to the ground. (That could be inconvenient.) So, amazingly, slime performs what seem to be opposite functions: sticking and flowing.
Moisture: Slime production is one way the slug’s soft body keeps itself moist, which is essential for it to function and survive. An interesting side note: when conditions are hot or dry, the banana slug responds by seeking out a cooler, moister place to hang out. The slug also becomes less active, which helps to minimize moisture loss.
Defense: Slime can discourage a predator by making its mouth numb so it’s more difficult and unpleasant to eat a banana slug. (Is it ever pleasant to eat a banana slug?) In addition to this protection, the slug can create a mucus plug at the tip of its tail, which can foul the mouth of a predator, "gumming up the works," so to speak. This temporary distraction can give the slug a chance to escape.
So, next time you see a banana slug leaving behind a trail of slime, don’t think, “Yuck, that’s gross.” Instead, take time to appreciate the important roles that slime plays in the life of this small animal and to marvel at the incredible design of a wise Creator.
O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 104:24–25 ESV
Here's another interesting fact about banana slugs. Redwood forests provide the type of habitat a banana slug needs. The slug has been known to eat shoots of other plants that compete with redwood trees, often leaving the redwood saplings alone.
Want to read more about the banana slug? Here are a few sites you can visit!
National Parks Service – Muir Woods National Monument
Share about God's design with your kids! Download these Banana Slug Activity Sheets. (The art was done by my daughter, Ellen Injerd.)