How do snails reproduce?

Snails at night

Photo: Andrew Amey

 Most land snails [Pulmonates] are hermaphrodites which means they have both male and female reproductive organs. They fertilise each another and then lay eggs.
After mating which may take several hours, they lay their eggs in depressions under logs or debris. Operculates which are those groups with an operculum or door-like process that can seal the aperture, are single sexed. The female of these species is often larger than the male.


Eggs will hatch in 4 to 6 weeks.

Reproduction and growth is often limited by the environment and amount of rainfall. In desert areas and poor moisture-retaining habitats, the adult size may have a lower whorl count.