HOW DO SNAILS REPRODUCE ?
>>By Mohamad Khairi .B. Mohd Adenan
(internal fertilisation)
Some snail species make use of 'love darts' during copulation. About one third of snail species manufacture hard, sharp darts which they 'fire' at the object of their affections (i.e. other snails).
Websites:
http://www.artsaquaticsandanimals.com/
http://www.snail-world.com/How-do-Snails-Reproduce.html
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.applesnail.net/content/anatomy/reproduction.php
Pictures from Yahoo and Google search engines.
:)(: REFLECTION :)(:
I have always wondered how snails reproduce, and I am really glad I had this as my e-learning assignment. Thank you Ms Nada! Without this assignment, I would never have been moved to find out about snail reproduction.
I find snails quite a unique species, and after the research about them, my appreciation to them grew even more. I would be much more careful not to step on snails the next time. The way in which they reproduce quite amazes me, with their " love darts " and how the male crawl up the female's shell and does the "deed". I was also amazed at
the picture of the snails (internal fertilisation) where they coil their sexual organs. Indeed,I have found out much more about snails than I've used to know. They are 2 types of snails, hermaphrodites and dioecious, and 2 ways in which they reproduce, namely external and internal fertilisation.
We have to understand and try to appreciate each and every single species that have been created by god, as how we try to understand and appreciate other cultures, traditions and races. Each species is unique in its own way. Even if we don't like it, we must still respect it. Criticising the species is like critising god's creation. Everything is there or done for a reason. Snails also belong to food webs, pets of many children and unfortunately in my opinion, delicacies in some countries like France.
Whatever it is, without the existence of snails, our world would be " a species less exciting. "
Snails will be able to reproduce differently than almost any other type of creature because of their species and their make-up.
There’s 2 types of Snails:
- Hermaphrodites (every snail will have both male and female reproductive organs.) Examples include land and marine species.
- Dioecious ( having the male and female organs in separate and distinct individuals; having separate sexes.)
Examples include (apple, golden inca, four horned, etc.)
Examples include (apple, golden inca, four horned, etc.)
There are also 2 different types of fertilisation :
- Internal fertilisation(copulation)
- External fertilisation (externally in the water).
Snails are hermaphrodites, with both male and female sexual organs in the same body. A penis is extruded from the side of each head as the snails join together.
(Dioecious)(External Fertilisation in the water.)
The sperms and eggs are released into the water and fertilisation occurs.
Snails are considered sexually mature when they reached a year old, as the lifespan of most species does not last for more than about 5 -7 years. This allows for a faster growth rate of the species. The make-up of the snails will include their reproductive organs on the side of their body. This is close to the top of their body as well, allowing for easier abilities to mate and to grow the baby snails.
The male will climb onto the females shell, slightly over to one side, his penis looks like a flat white tube (similar to his breathing siphon, but shorter and fatter) and he will insert it into the female's shell and up into her body, going through a complete mating ritual with each other, usually copulating with the other snail for an average of two to twelve hours. Snail copulation is actually an exchange of sperm between two individuals, combined with plenty of rubbing, biting and 'eye-stalk' waving. Snails use the received sperm to fertilize their own eggs at the end of the copulation.
She will usually continue about her life, walking around the tank while the male continues his deed riding on her shell. It is known that a snail can carry up to 100 eggs at a time. Females may or may not lay eggs after the male breeds her. Pomacea species snails can carry sperm in their bodies for many weeks.
Most snails lay eggs but some, like the trapdoor snail, give live birth. Trapdoor snails and a few other species of snails such as (apple, golden inca, four horned, etc.) are not hermaphrodites. They can only reproduce sexually.
Some snail species make use of 'love darts' during copulation. About one third of snail species manufacture hard, sharp darts which they 'fire' at the object of their affections (i.e. other snails).
Websites:
http://www.artsaquaticsandanimals.com/
http://www.snail-world.com/How-do-Snails-Reproduce.html
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.applesnail.net/content/anatomy/reproduction.php
Pictures from Yahoo and Google search engines.
:)(: REFLECTION :)(:
I have always wondered how snails reproduce, and I am really glad I had this as my e-learning assignment. Thank you Ms Nada! Without this assignment, I would never have been moved to find out about snail reproduction.
I find snails quite a unique species, and after the research about them, my appreciation to them grew even more. I would be much more careful not to step on snails the next time. The way in which they reproduce quite amazes me, with their " love darts " and how the male crawl up the female's shell and does the "deed". I was also amazed at
the picture of the snails (internal fertilisation) where they coil their sexual organs. Indeed,I have found out much more about snails than I've used to know. They are 2 types of snails, hermaphrodites and dioecious, and 2 ways in which they reproduce, namely external and internal fertilisation.
We have to understand and try to appreciate each and every single species that have been created by god, as how we try to understand and appreciate other cultures, traditions and races. Each species is unique in its own way. Even if we don't like it, we must still respect it. Criticising the species is like critising god's creation. Everything is there or done for a reason. Snails also belong to food webs, pets of many children and unfortunately in my opinion, delicacies in some countries like France.
Whatever it is, without the existence of snails, our world would be " a species less exciting. "
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