Alien Brain Slugs

Featured in the Gastropoda series

See https://e621.net/pools/32071

Meta:
Owned by Inconspicious, https://e621.net/artists/75197
Semi-open species, to be used with permission by anyone interested

Description and Anatomy:

- A. encephalos is most likely extraterrestrial in origin, however it resembles its common Earth-native cousin and shares nearly 85% genetic similarity to common garden slugs, hence its classifications in the Arion genus.

- A. encephalos are typically observed to be 6-8 cm long and 1-2 cm wide when outside of hosts.

- Each slug has a two-segmented body, with the segments separated by a ring that travels the circumference of the slug's body. The lower segment, or foot, comprises the majority of the slug's body, with the upper segment, or mantle, extending out for motion.

- The upper segment has two short sensory stalks at the front, which allows the slug to sense its physical environment, as well as to detect the electrical patterns characteristic of intelligent brain activity.

- The underside of the lower segments along the foot of the slug contains a slit that hides thin fibers that allow it to directly integrate with a hosts’ brain.