Most people react to slugs with disgust — “Slimy, slow-moving, and often seen after a rainstorm,” they’re far from admired. Yet these creatures are far more useful than they seem.

In nature, slugs act as recyclers, feeding on “decaying plants, fungi, and organic matter” to enrich the soil. Without them, gardens and forests would overflow with waste. They’re also a key food source for birds, frogs, beetles, and hedgehogs, keeping ecosystems balanced.

Surprisingly, slug mucus has become valuable in skincare. Though unpleasant to touch, it “hydrates, repairs, and protects human skin,” earning a place in creams and serums.

Scientists are equally fascinated by slug slime. Its strong yet flexible stickiness has inspired new “medical glues and wound treatments,” offering safer alternatives to stitches.

Even in neuroscience, slugs play a role. Their simple nervous systems help researchers study “memory, learning, and neurological diseases.”

So while they might never be loved for their looks, slugs quietly “clean nature’s mess” and contribute to science and medicine — proving they’re far from ordinary.

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