I don't think Sligs and Paramites are related as closely as it immediately seems. Paramites seem more mammal-like, while Sligs are defenately mollusc-originated. Even though the words 'mammal' and 'mollusc' mean nothing to Oddworld, the diference is noticable.
Sligs' 'tentacles', I think, enclose a mouth, or more correctly, a beak, just like Earth squids have. I don't think Sligs have much control over their tentacles, now that they have hands and tools for opening tinned beans. Maybe in the past they used them like a starfish uses its arms, for forcing apart shells and the like. There certainly doesn't seem to be bone inside them, and they don't look very strong any more.
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