Limax maximus

This species is fairly cosmopolitan globally but probably has a European origin in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. It has been introduced widely around the world including Asia Minor, Australia, Canada, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Africa, and South America.

This species is fairly cosmopolitan globally but probably has a European origin in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. It has been introduced widely around the world including Asia Minor, Australia, Canada, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Africa, and South America.

This species was first recorded in Hawaii either in 1931 or 1949 (Cowie, 1997) and has become established on Hawaii. In a recent survey, it was found in the Pua Akala region, southern part of Hakalua Forest National Wildlife Refuge, on the windward slopes of Mauna Kea, elevation 5150-6240 feet, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands (Howarth et al., 2003). It had been documented historically in Colorado (Cockerell, 1927) but recent (2008) specimens exist in the University of Colorado Museum. In California, it occurs in 13 counties: Alameda, Calaveras, Humboldt, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara (incl. Santa Cruz Island), and Santa Clara (McDonnell et al., 2009). In New York, Hotopp and Pearce (2007) report it from 9 counties in the eastern, southeastern and far western parts of the state as an exotic. Forsyth (2005) documented it in the Upper Fraser Basin of central British Columbia in a single area in Quesnel but it is now widespread in southern British Columbia. Most recently, it was discovered in the Ktunaxa Traditional Territory in southeastern British Columbia (which extends from near Canada - U.S. border north to about 50 km north of Cranbrook) (Ovaska and Sopuck, 2009).