A terrestrial, air-breathing, gastropod mollusc that lacks a visible shell, or that carries a shell too small for the animal to withdraw into it. Most slugs have two pairs of retractable tentacles, the upper pair sensitive to light and the lower pair to scent, and behind the head a saddle-like mantle with a respiratory opening; the hind part of the mantle forms a lung. The underside is a muscular foot. The entire body is coated in mucus that prevents desiccation. Most slugs feed on decaying plant material and fungi, some on carrion, and some are predators. Some are serious crop pests. There are about 5000 species found worldwide.