Skip to main content

Kōrero: Snails and slugs

Garden snails mating

Garden snails mating

Snails are hermaphrodites, with both male and female sexual organs in the same body. When common garden snails (Helix aspersa) mate, a penis is extruded from the side of each head as the snails join together.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand

Reference: M10006smp.tif

by Peter E. Smith

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Paddy Ryan, Snails and slugs – New Zealand land molluscs, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/12856/garden-snails-mating (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Paddy Ryan, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.

Comments

Jemma
27 March 2018
Do they have a time when they mate
Donnis
10 April 2016
I found 2 garden snails connected at the side of the head. Thanks to your web site I now know that they are having sex.