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caught in the action


caught in the action
Photo Information
Copyright: Sue Rickhuss (snaphappy) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 142 W: 20 N: 204] (1672)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-02
Categories: Molluscs
Camera: Olympus C-5050z
Exposure: f/2, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-02 13:37
Viewed: 358
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
i doubt if this really happened when they met.
Common snails, like all land snails, are hermaphrodites. This means that they possess both male and female reproductive organs. Despite this they still need to find another snail to mate with. When two snails meet during the breeding season (late spring or early summer), mating is initiated by one snail piercing the skin of the other snail with a calcified 'love dart'. The exact purpose of the 'love dart' is not fully understood but it seems to stimulate the other snail into exchanging small packets of sperm. After mating is complete the snails will produce eggs internally, which are fertilised by the sperm that has been exchanged.

Up to about a month after mating the snail lays about a hundred small white eggs in a nest underground in damp soil. If the conditions remain suitable for the eggs, snails will begin to hatch after about 14 days. Newly hatched snails have a small fragile shell and it takes two years for them to reach maturity.



the larger Common snails have pale grey moist skin. At the front end are four tentacles, the shorter two are for feeling and the longer pair are eye stalks. The shell of these snails is light brown with darker brown bands following the spiral of the shell. The shell colouration varies in its intensity from pale yellow to almost black.
Art_R, MartinL has marked this note useful
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  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 16 N: 478] (1975)
  • [2008-06-02 18:07]

Hi Sue , an interesting composition , it kind of gives a feeling of sneaking a peak at these creatures tender moments , nice color , and detail too. your notes are also very interesting, thanks for sharing
regards
Art

Sue,

Very interesting note, well done.
This is a cool shot. It reminds me of highway traffic passing by, albeit a lot more slowly :) You've caught this moment very well. TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

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