The aphrodisiac that unlocked the secret sex life of snails
Toilet rolls didn't cut it. Nor did PVC pipes. But sterilised palm fronds turned out to be the perfect aphrodisiac for a rare species of Norfolk Island snail thought to be extinct until five years ago.
Fifteen specimens of Campbell's Keeled Glass-Snail (Advena campbellii) have multiplied into 800 in four years in a captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo Sydney.
Next week, 600 of the gastropods will be placed in tanks packed into eskies and flown back to Norfolk Island for eventual wild release.
Snails are hermaphrodites, but that doesn't mean they don't have sex. Some species are capable of self-fertilisation, but sexual reproduction ensures genetic diversity.
Tarryn Williams Clow, senior keeper at Taronga Zoo, said these snails were 'very secretive' about their sex lives.
'In all the years that we've had them here at Taronga Zoo, not once has any keeper really seen them mating,' Williams Clow said. 'We think maybe once we got a glimpse, but they're very private little snails.'
What the keepers have witnessed is the snails giving birth to live young with fully formed shells through a genital pore on their necks.
Dr Isabel Hyman, research scientist at Australian Museum, said similar species of snails have sex.
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Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The aphrodisiac that unlocked the secret sex life of snails
Toilet rolls didn't cut it. Nor did PVC pipes. But sterilised palm fronds turned out to be the perfect aphrodisiac for a rare species of Norfolk Island snail thought to be extinct until five years ago. Fifteen specimens of Campbell's Keeled Glass-Snail (Advena campbellii) have multiplied into 800 in four years in a captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Next week, 600 of the gastropods will be placed in tanks packed into eskies and flown back to Norfolk Island for eventual wild release. Snails are hermaphrodites, but that doesn't mean they don't have sex. Some species are capable of self-fertilisation, but sexual reproduction ensures genetic diversity. Tarryn Williams Clow, senior keeper at Taronga Zoo, said these snails were 'very secretive' about their sex lives. 'In all the years that we've had them here at Taronga Zoo, not once has any keeper really seen them mating,' Williams Clow said. 'We think maybe once we got a glimpse, but they're very private little snails.' What the keepers have witnessed is the snails giving birth to live young with fully formed shells through a genital pore on their necks. Dr Isabel Hyman, research scientist at Australian Museum, said similar species of snails have sex.
The Age
6 days ago
- The Age
The aphrodisiac that unlocked the secret sex life of snails
Toilet rolls didn't cut it. Nor did PVC pipes. But sterilised palm fronds turned out to be the perfect aphrodisiac for a rare species of Norfolk Island snail thought to be extinct until five years ago. Fifteen specimens of Campbell's Keeled Glass-Snail (Advena campbellii) have multiplied into 800 in four years in a captive breeding program at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Next week, 600 of the gastropods will be placed in tanks packed into eskies and flown back to Norfolk Island for eventual wild release. Snails are hermaphrodites, but that doesn't mean they don't have sex. Some species are capable of self-fertilisation, but sexual reproduction ensures genetic diversity. Tarryn Williams Clow, senior keeper at Taronga Zoo, said these snails were 'very secretive' about their sex lives. 'In all the years that we've had them here at Taronga Zoo, not once has any keeper really seen them mating,' Williams Clow said. 'We think maybe once we got a glimpse, but they're very private little snails.' What the keepers have witnessed is the snails giving birth to live young with fully formed shells through a genital pore on their necks. Dr Isabel Hyman, research scientist at Australian Museum, said similar species of snails have sex.
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Eggs and the city: loved-up slug baths open for humans again as sea hares hop back in big pool
Hundreds of sea hares were removed, or made their own way out of Merewether Ocean Baths in the past week after a significant spawning event filled the popular swimming spot with adult slugs and their eggs. City of Newcastle, which manages the ocean baths, said that, on advice from marine and environmental experts, the slugs were "given space" to see out that part of their life cycle. But, as the adults departed on the high tides, teams had moved in to help along the remaining stragglers. The baths were scheduled to be closed for draining and cleaning on Tuesday, but it was expected that they would reopen by Tuesday afternoon. The baths were closed on May 7 when the slugs were discovered. Since then, the council has kept a close eye on the spawning cycle, which has captured the city's attention. Merewether Mackerels Winter Swimming Club kicked off its season on Sunday, but the bizarre creatures' takeover of the pool surprised club president Steve Weller. "The baths were cleaned on Thursday, May 1, and the sea hares appeared in numbers within a day or two. My guess is they arrived as the fresh water was pumped into the baths," he said. Sea slugs are mostly harmless to humans, but researchers linked their semi-toxic outer slime coating, used as a natural defence, to the deaths of three dogs in WA in 2018. Sea hares inhabit most of the Australian coastline, and Nelson Bay reportedly houses 250 species in various vibrant colours and patterns. The Australian Museum's listing for the species notes that they are regularly found in pools and can swim, but prefer gliding over the rocks and feeding on algae. "In the natural environment, sea hares would have been taken off the rock platform by now, but in the baths, a little human help is needed," the council said via its social media on Monday afternoon. "Our team gently collected the remaining eggs and adults and returned them to the ocean at the right tide. The eggs will continue to develop as part of the natural life cycle." Hundreds of sea hares were removed, or made their own way out of Merewether Ocean Baths in the past week after a significant spawning event filled the popular swimming spot with adult slugs and their eggs. City of Newcastle, which manages the ocean baths, said that, on advice from marine and environmental experts, the slugs were "given space" to see out that part of their life cycle. But, as the adults departed on the high tides, teams had moved in to help along the remaining stragglers. The baths were scheduled to be closed for draining and cleaning on Tuesday, but it was expected that they would reopen by Tuesday afternoon. The baths were closed on May 7 when the slugs were discovered. Since then, the council has kept a close eye on the spawning cycle, which has captured the city's attention. Merewether Mackerels Winter Swimming Club kicked off its season on Sunday, but the bizarre creatures' takeover of the pool surprised club president Steve Weller. "The baths were cleaned on Thursday, May 1, and the sea hares appeared in numbers within a day or two. My guess is they arrived as the fresh water was pumped into the baths," he said. Sea slugs are mostly harmless to humans, but researchers linked their semi-toxic outer slime coating, used as a natural defence, to the deaths of three dogs in WA in 2018. Sea hares inhabit most of the Australian coastline, and Nelson Bay reportedly houses 250 species in various vibrant colours and patterns. The Australian Museum's listing for the species notes that they are regularly found in pools and can swim, but prefer gliding over the rocks and feeding on algae. "In the natural environment, sea hares would have been taken off the rock platform by now, but in the baths, a little human help is needed," the council said via its social media on Monday afternoon. "Our team gently collected the remaining eggs and adults and returned them to the ocean at the right tide. The eggs will continue to develop as part of the natural life cycle." Hundreds of sea hares were removed, or made their own way out of Merewether Ocean Baths in the past week after a significant spawning event filled the popular swimming spot with adult slugs and their eggs. City of Newcastle, which manages the ocean baths, said that, on advice from marine and environmental experts, the slugs were "given space" to see out that part of their life cycle. But, as the adults departed on the high tides, teams had moved in to help along the remaining stragglers. The baths were scheduled to be closed for draining and cleaning on Tuesday, but it was expected that they would reopen by Tuesday afternoon. The baths were closed on May 7 when the slugs were discovered. Since then, the council has kept a close eye on the spawning cycle, which has captured the city's attention. Merewether Mackerels Winter Swimming Club kicked off its season on Sunday, but the bizarre creatures' takeover of the pool surprised club president Steve Weller. "The baths were cleaned on Thursday, May 1, and the sea hares appeared in numbers within a day or two. My guess is they arrived as the fresh water was pumped into the baths," he said. Sea slugs are mostly harmless to humans, but researchers linked their semi-toxic outer slime coating, used as a natural defence, to the deaths of three dogs in WA in 2018. Sea hares inhabit most of the Australian coastline, and Nelson Bay reportedly houses 250 species in various vibrant colours and patterns. The Australian Museum's listing for the species notes that they are regularly found in pools and can swim, but prefer gliding over the rocks and feeding on algae. "In the natural environment, sea hares would have been taken off the rock platform by now, but in the baths, a little human help is needed," the council said via its social media on Monday afternoon. "Our team gently collected the remaining eggs and adults and returned them to the ocean at the right tide. The eggs will continue to develop as part of the natural life cycle." Hundreds of sea hares were removed, or made their own way out of Merewether Ocean Baths in the past week after a significant spawning event filled the popular swimming spot with adult slugs and their eggs. City of Newcastle, which manages the ocean baths, said that, on advice from marine and environmental experts, the slugs were "given space" to see out that part of their life cycle. But, as the adults departed on the high tides, teams had moved in to help along the remaining stragglers. The baths were scheduled to be closed for draining and cleaning on Tuesday, but it was expected that they would reopen by Tuesday afternoon. The baths were closed on May 7 when the slugs were discovered. Since then, the council has kept a close eye on the spawning cycle, which has captured the city's attention. Merewether Mackerels Winter Swimming Club kicked off its season on Sunday, but the bizarre creatures' takeover of the pool surprised club president Steve Weller. "The baths were cleaned on Thursday, May 1, and the sea hares appeared in numbers within a day or two. My guess is they arrived as the fresh water was pumped into the baths," he said. Sea slugs are mostly harmless to humans, but researchers linked their semi-toxic outer slime coating, used as a natural defence, to the deaths of three dogs in WA in 2018. Sea hares inhabit most of the Australian coastline, and Nelson Bay reportedly houses 250 species in various vibrant colours and patterns. The Australian Museum's listing for the species notes that they are regularly found in pools and can swim, but prefer gliding over the rocks and feeding on algae. "In the natural environment, sea hares would have been taken off the rock platform by now, but in the baths, a little human help is needed," the council said via its social media on Monday afternoon. "Our team gently collected the remaining eggs and adults and returned them to the ocean at the right tide. The eggs will continue to develop as part of the natural life cycle."
