Story: Snails and slugs

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.

Using this item

Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand

Reference: M10006smp.tif

by Peter E. Smith

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How to cite this page

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

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 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.