Key Largo, Liguus fasciatus

Liguus fasciatus ornatus Simpson, 1920
(juvenile in growth)

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

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Juan C Agüero Fotógrafo de Naturaleza.

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Liguus fasciatus, mating in their natural habitad

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Liguus fasciatus mating from Juan C Aguero on Vimeo.

" Florida Tree Snails are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female
sexual organs. Hillis (1989) investigated with laboratory breeding and found that partial
self-fertilization (a single clutch containing both self-fertilized and outcrossed eggs) does
occur in L. fasciatus solidus. Their genetalia are located on the right side of the head and
behind the antennae. The snail is sexually mature in their third year and they can locate
mates by following slime trials (Brown, 1978). Mating occurs between the months of
June and August with a 1-2 day courtship and then egg deposition occurs in the months
of September and October (Jones, 1954). One to fifty eggs, which are a thin, elliptical,
pale brown, calcareous shell, (Pilsbry, 1912) are deposited in the nests built in the leaf
litter four to five centimeters deep (Voss, 1976). The eggs hatch the following April in
concurrence with the beginning of the rainy season. Simpson (1929a) and Voss (1976
observed excessive numbers of dead snails soon after the egg laying period which reflects
a high post reproductive mortality rate."

Jason R. Fadely. May 2009 "Population Distribution of Liguus fasciatus solidus in Long Pine Key of Everglades National Park."

Liguus fasciatus - Mating in their natural habitad. from Juan C Aguero on Vimeo.

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Safari Today, Everglades National Park

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Mating season

Liguus fasciatus testudineus Pilsbry, 1912
and
castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Mating

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Mating

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Liguus fasciatus eburneus Simpson, 1920

© Juan C Aguero (juanKa)

Liguus Video (Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912)

Florida Tree Snail, Liguus fasciatus from Juan C Aguero on Vimeo.

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___________________________________________________________________
Gorgeous and multicolored inhabitants of tropical hardwood hammocks, tree snails, of the genus Liguus, are known as "living jewels." They are two to three inches long, and are found only in extreme southern Florida and the Florida Keys. Fifty-two native color varieties exist, ranging from white to almost black, wrapped in whorls of emerald green, chestnut, orange, yellow or pink.

Tree snails feed on algae and fungus scraped from smooth-barked trees, such as wild tamarind, pigeon plum, myrsine and bustic. They slide along the bark on a thin layer of mucus secreted from their large foot. Although found throughout the year, they are most active during the rainy season, from May through September, especially after a heavy rain.

During the dry season, they go into a kind of hibernation called estivation, fastening themselves to a branch and sealing their shells with mucus to prevent drying out. Rainwater softens this seal and out they come. If they are ripped from a branch during dry season, they will dry out and die.

Tree snails mate during the late summer rains, and lay pea-sized pearlescent eggs in nests at the base of trees. The eggs remain in the nest until the following rainy season when the baby snails, known as "buttons," emerge and crawl up the tree.

The tree snail is listed as a species of special concern in Florida. They are threatened by illegal collection of their shells, pesticide spraying and destruction of habitat. If you come across these delicate jewels of the hammock, please do not disturb them.
Fuentes:
myfwc.com/viewing/species/treesnail.htm
Tree Snails Gems of the Everglades (National Geographic Magazine March, 1965)

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Not only Liguus

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Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

Liguus fasciatus solidus (Say, 1825)

Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912

© Juan C Aguero (juanKa)