| Interesting facts about snails:
Snail Reproduction:
Snails are hermaphrodites. After pairing, snails can preserve the spermatophores for a period of one year. For laying eggs, snails dig holes or use natural dug-outs (the stem base of plants). As soon as a hole of the required depth is dug, snails start to carefully work up the walls of the housing. The housing is made solid and soil is thrown out through the intestines onto the surface. Around 40 pearl-white, brilliant eggs (a diameter of 4-7 mm) are laid in a set. After completion of the laying, the hole is filled up. After breeding season, approximately 1/3 of the snails die.
Snail Reproduction season and period:
March to June and sometimes a second peak is also possible during the onset of autumn.
Snail Pubescence:
12-18 months.
Courting rituals:
The urge towards mating can be determined by the behavior. The snail slowly creeps, as if it is in search of something, often stops and stays at one place for longer periods by slightly raising the front portion of the body. If two such snails meet, they at once start the mating process. Both of them stand opposite each other and the take characteristic position, by touching the sections of the sole and feeling each other’s tentacles. These movements stop after some time, snails fall and tightly hug each other with the sole and are motionless for 15-30 minutes. After a rest period, once again the game resumes. The entire process lasts for about two hours, till the snail, which has reached the height of excitation after driving its dart into the body of the partner that heightens the excitation of partner. After a small pause, the copulation process takes place in which both the male and female snails play roles. Snails part ways only after the exchange of spermatophores.
Snail Incubation:
3-4 weeks
Posterity:
Baby snails, identical to adult snails, emerge from eggs. Young snails have smooth transparent shells, in which only half curl. After 8 to 10 days, young snails leave the nest and creep out onto the surface in search of food. Under favorable conditions, snails grow very quickly - within a month, they can become four times more than their size at birth. Out of all born snails, only 5% attain puberty.
Snail advantages and hazards for humans:
In South and South-West Europe, snails are eaten. The meat of snails is highly nourishing. The protein in a snail is one third more than in a chicken egg. The snail is not harmful for agriculture. The snail can be an intermediate owner of parasitic broods, which are dangerous for domestic and commercial animals.
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