Snails are surprising creations. The absolute majority of all nowadays existing snails are hermaphrodites, i.e. beings who at the same time have both male, and female genitals. It is curious that at mature age the genitals of snails become exclusively women's.
How do land snails breed?
Snails not more often than once a year breed. The behavior of these beings considerably changes when the time of their pairing comes. Snails begin to creep more slowly than usual and do frequent stops. They long can fade on the place, for hours waiting for the sexual partner. As soon as the second partner appears, at snails a peculiar mating dance begins.
The copulating snails begin to look after one after another, merging in marriage dance. They rock here and there then are extended up and adjoin with each other by means of so-called soles – a brawny leg. The snails who densely nestled to each other can lie in such situation to half an hour.
Zoologists noticed that mating dance of snails can continue till 2 o'clock and comes to an end with pairing. Fertilization between two snails happens in the igolochkovy way: mollusks throw limy needles which it is accepted to call love arrows in each other bodies. It allows each of partners to play a role both a male, and a female. By the way, time of copulation of snails entirely depends on their species and takes various time. Land snails lay the eggs under stalks of plants or dig in in small earth poles. In one laying there can be from 30 to 40 white or pearl-white eggs. Postponement of eggs are process, quite serious and responsible for a snail, having executed which she falls asleep. The incubation period of "maturing" of eggs lasts about one month.
How do aquarian snails breed?
In not less interesting way also snails in an aquarium breed. They differ from the land relatives in existence of the long respiratory tube allowing them to breathe oxygen without rising to a water smooth surface. Unlike the land snails who are hermaphrodites, their water relatives are heterosexual beings. It is not possible to distinguish a male from a female on external signs practically. Reproduction at aquarian snails happens only in the water environment, and they lay eggs on air – higher than water border. For example, ampulyariya throw the caviar on aquarium walls as out of an aquarium these snails will just die. Before a laying the female of an ampulyariya long time surveys the surrounding area on aquarium glass. As soon as she finds the suitable place, begins to throw the caviar which is pasted to glass. As a result something similar turns out on a grapevine. In 3 weeks from these berries cubs hatch. Once it is born, they fall in water. The start is given to new generation!