# Leopard slug (*Limax maximus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/leopard-slug  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The leopard slug (Limax maximus) is a mollusc in the snails and slugs subgroup, belonging to the family Limacidae within the class Gastropoda. It is also called the tiger slug, great grey slug, great gray slug, giant gardenslug and spotted garden slug. The species was named by Linnaeus in 1758 and is placed in the genus Limax, subfamily Limacinae and superfamily Limacoidea. The IUCN Red List assesses the leopard slug globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | 10 cm – 20 cm |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Mollusca
- class: Gastropoda
- family: Limacidae
- genus: Limax
- species: *Limax maximus* Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms: *Krynickillus mamelianus*, *Limacella parma*, *Limax abrostolus*, *Limax altenai*, *Limax bocagei*, *Limax cellarius*, *Limax cinereus*, *Limax eubalius*, *Limax maculatus*, *Limax maximus*, *Limax maximus*, *Limax maximus var. cellarius*, *Limax maximus var. obscurus*, *Limax pardalis*, *Limax sylvaticus*, *Limax vulgaris*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the leopard slug?

The leopard slug is a mollusc in the snails and slugs subgroup. It belongs to the class Gastropoda and the family Limacidae.

### What is the scientific name of the leopard slug?

The scientific name of the leopard slug is Limax maximus, placing it in the genus Limax.

### Who named the leopard slug and when?

The leopard slug was named by Linnaeus in 1758.

### Is the leopard slug endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses the leopard slug globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

### What other names does the leopard slug have?

The leopard slug is also called the tiger slug, great grey slug, great gray slug, giant gardenslug and spotted garden slug.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Leopard slug (Limax maximus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/leopard-slug