Reproduction

All living organisms reproduce, however, the ways in which they reproduce vary. Even in animals there are multiple ways in which they reproduce. Gastropods are known for having two reproductive organs.

There is little information on the Patera clarki’s reproduction style and mating, however, most all snails have the relatively same style. Snails are first of all either dioecious meaning they either have male or female reproductive systems, or monoecious meaning they have both male and female reproductive systems (Hickman et al., 2011). However a majority of the Pulmonata are monoeicious and have a hermaphroditic gonad producing egg cells as well as sperm cells (Nordseick, 2011). This picture is of two snails mating compliments of EOL.org

Life Cycle: In terrestrial pulmonate snails sperm cells are transferred to a part of the snail called the spermatophore (Nordseick, 2011).  Mating takes place monoeciously, being that the snails are male and female, and also takes place at the same time (Nordseick, 2011). Then after the transfer of sperm, the eggs accept the sperm and the life cycle of a new snail begins! Terrestrial gastropods have a direct life cycle (Hickman et al., 2011) meaning they either give birth to live young that are juvenile adults or they lay eggs which also hatch into juvenile adults. The juvenile adults look directly like the adult form and grow into adults to then again reproduce.

 

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