Thursday, July 25, 2013

LACUNA SNAIL REPRODUCTIVE EXPLOSION

Lately the number of Lacuna Snail (Lacuna variegata or vincta) egg masses on both eelgrass and seaweeds has exploded.  Eggs at all stages of development crowd on the eelgrass blades while mating snails can be seen in huge numbers....many laying eggs on the shell rather than on the eelgrass surface.  Eggs are yellow or green and there is likely some hybridization between species.  Egg masses swell and lose color as they age ending up looking like tiny white doughnuts.
Lacuna Snail

Lacuna eggs at various stages of development

Lacuna snails mating

Lacuna matings