With temperatures on the rise and life transitioning back into its phase of rebuilding and bloom, it can be said that Spring has finally returned. Thus like every year, we start to ask questions in relation to our life and all the life surrounding us. The most important of these questions naturally being how the Giant African Snail reproduces.

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The Giant African Snail (also known by its Latin name Limus Currus translating to “slime chariot”) as its name might suggest is a mollusk species native to continental Africa, which has spread through much of the tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Its incredibly efficient and dynamic form of reproduction being an integral part of this development. With even its youngest fertile specimen producing around 100 eggs. Fully grown snails may even reach numbers as high as 1800, making the containment of this invasive species an almost impossible task. 

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But what makes their courtship and mating habits so special?

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Like most snails the Giant African Snail is a hermaphrodite and can therefore bear both female and male genitalia allowing for self-reproduction in some cases. Most terrestrial gastropods have their reproductive system in an external opening located in the lower part of the body near the head, called the genital pore. What makes the Giant African Snail so fascinating is its 2-millimeter deviation from the average pore size. Making it the biggest species of the so called “slime chariot” subspecies that is equipped with such a unique reproductive attribute. 

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What is even more interesting than the snail’s anatomy is its courtship process consisting of a precise sequence of movements called the “mucus ballet”. The process normally taking between 8 to 12 hours with some recorded cases even taking multiple days. The slow pace of this delightful process having as a consequence that the participants are often exposed to predatory birds that descend upon them and bring this natural performance to an anti-climactic end. 

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The almost complete lack of sight of the Giant African Snail also further complicates the process by making it an incredible challenge for the snails to even physically connect with their partner of choice. A single mistake could mean a slow separation of the two participants, who will only realize after multiple hours that they have been abandoned by their partner.

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But in the unlikely event of successful copulation something so beautiful and captivating happens, that makes every Giant African Snail expert remember why they began studying these mystical creatures in the first place. The snails which are now in close proximity of each other will start shooting “love darts” at each other. These hardened structures are meant to transfer bodily fluids from one snail to the other. But often end up piercing the vital organs of one of the participants, through having the shape of massive darts. It needs to be said that only 20% of all Giant African Snails survive this step.

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The snail then falls into a catatonic state while waiting for the eggs to hatch. Thereby giving a new generation of snails the privilege to indulge in one of natures most complex and charming dances.