Facts
- Snails locate a mate by sensing and following slime trials on the ground,
and they often attempt mating up
to 20 times before they are
successful. (Wilbur, 1984). - Snails often have to dig multiple pits before finding a suitable location to lay their eggs.(Wilbur, 1984).
- Many snails exchange sperm by stabbing the mate with a "love dart" and releasing fluids through it, but members of the Patera genus are amongst the few that do not. (Wilbur, 1984).
- Snails can store sperm in their body cavity for up to a year to allow them to continue to reproduce without a mate. (Wilbur, 1984).
- Snails build their shells by taking up calcium from the soil and concentrating it to provide protection for themselves as well as support. (Carnegie, 2009).
- The calcium snails use to build their shells serves as an important source of calcium for other predators up the food chain. (Carnegie, 2009).
- Snails secrete slime from glands in their belly that helps them to glide over rocks and other surfaces as well as providing a trail for potential mates to sense and follow. (Martin, 2000).
- The snails tentacles usually located below the eyes are extremely important in helping the snail to sense the environment they are in and to assist in finding food. (Martin, 2000).
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