Let's play darts

Snail reproduction is a curious tale. Snails are hermaphrodites, that is to say that individuals contain both male and female sex organs, but they do not self-fertilize. The two- to six-hour marathon session that is snail copulation involves an exchange of sperm between two individuals, combined with plenty of rubbing, exuding of mucous and lots of "eye-stalk" waving. Each individual uses the sperm received from the other snail to fertilize their own eggs.

Something that makes some snails particularly interesting is their use of "love darts" during copulation. About one third of snail species manufacture hard, sharp, calcareous darts with which they stab the object of their affection.

You can see the sharp white love dart of one of the courting snails in my photograph.

Best seen in lurid detail! Don't knock it until you've tried it!