Reproduction

     Snails are either monoecious or dioecious (Hickman et al., 2012). When something is said to be monoecious it means that the organism contains both male and female organs in the same individual; whereas, when something is said to be dioecious it would be a distinct and separate individual that has either male or female organs, not both (Hickman et al., 2012).  Another term that one can use instead of monoecious is hermaphroditic (Hickman et al., 2012).             

     Triodopsis albolabris alleni belongs to the family Polygyridae (Encyclopedia of Life, 2012).  Snails in this particular family are moneocious (Hickman et al., 2012).  Even though self- fertilization for Triodopsis albolabris alleni is possible, self-fertilization is not nearly as common (Pilsbry, 1940).  Normal reproductive patterns are sexual between two partners (Pilsbry, 1940). Snails find their potential mates by using the chemical senses due to the fact that gastropods have no sense of hearing (Chase, 2007). Snails perform sexual reproduction internally by copulation (Hickman et al., 2012).  Sperm cells are transferred in a spermatophore, which is a specially designed sperm packet (Hickman et al. 2012).  Copulation is the sexual union which allows for genetic exchange and fertilization (Hickman et al., 2012).      

     When the snails are mating, the two organisms line up next to one another so that the sperm can be ejected into the female opening (Conrad, 2012). When Triodopsis albolabris alleni are ready they expend their eggs out into a selectively moist environment (Conrad, 2012).  Adult snails can lay a single egg to dozens of eggs at a time (Welcome Wildlife.com, 2012). In the case of Triodopsis albolabris alleni it lays its eggs in groups in the soil (Strum, 2006). 
     Terrestrial snails have a direct life cycle (Hickman et al., 2012). Thus Triodopsis albolabris alleni emerge as miniature adults.   Snail eggs generally take between two and four weeks to develop (Welcome Wildlife.com, 2012). Once hatched the snails feed on the shell they hatched from as well as the shells of unhatched eggs because they need to acquire calcium and other vital nutrients (Welcome Wildlife.com, 2012).
 

     This photograph is of two terrestrial snails mating not Triodopsis albolabris alleni specifically.         

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