Slug – Banana Slug
State Slug
Banana Slug
Ariolimax
Banana slugs can grow up to ten inches long and are one of the largest slug species in the world. While yellow banana slugs are the most recognizable, they also come in shades of brown, black, white, and green — many even have dark brown or black spots!
With a preference for cool, damp habitats, banana slugs are often found in redwood forests where they assist in pollination and eat organic debris along the forest floor.
In addition to being California’s State Slug, banana slugs have been the iconic mascot of the University of California, Santa Cruz since 1986.
Explore our State Symbols
- Amphibian – Red-Legged Frog
- Animal – California Grizzly Bear
- Bat – Pallid Bat
- Bird – California Valley Quail
- Colors – Blue and Gold
- Crustacean – Dungeness Crab
- Dance – West Coast Swing
- Dinosaur – Augustynolophus Morrisi
- Fabric – Denim
- Fife and Drum Band – California Consolidated Drum Band
- Flag
- Flower – California Golden Poppy
- Folk Dance – Square Dance
- FOSSIL – Saber-Toothed Cat
- Freshwater Fish – California Golden Trout
- Gemstone – Benitoite
- GOLD RUSH GHOST TOWN – Bodie
- Grass – Purple Needlegrass
- Historical Society
- Insect – California Dogface Butterfly
- LGBTQ Veterans Memorial
- Lichen – Lace Lichen
- Marine Fish – Garibaldi
- Marine Mammal – California Gray Whale
- Marine Reptile – Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Military Museum
- Mineral – Gold
- Motto – Eureka
- Mushroom – California Golden Chanterelle
- Nickname – Golden State
- Nuts: Almond, Walnut, Pistachio, Pecan
- PET – Shelter Pet
- Prehistoric Artifact
- Quarter
- Reptile – Desert Tortoise
- ROCK – Serpentine
- Seal
- Seashell – Black Abalone
- Shrub – Bigberry Manzanita
- SILVER RUSH GHOST TOWN – Calico
- Slug – Banana Slug
- Snake – Giant Garter Snake
- Soil – San Joaquin
- Song – “I Love You, California”
- Sport – Surfing
- Tall Ship – Californian
- Tartan
- Theater – Pasadena Playhouse
- Tree – Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
