Love dart

Monachoides vicinus dart lateral

Helix pomatia dart ex Meisenheimer

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Love dart of Helix aspersa with ruler

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Garden snails and love dart

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Weinbergschnecke Paarung

Helix pomatia head mating

Love dart

A love dart is a calcareous or chitinous dart that some hermaphroditic land snails and slugs create and use during mating. These darts are not directly involved in the transfer of sperm but play a crucial role in the reproductive process of these gastropods.

Description

Love darts are created by certain species of pulmonate land snails and slugs. The dart is stored in a special muscular sac called the dart sac. During mating, one or both of the snails or slugs will attempt to pierce the body of their partner with the dart. The dart is coated with mucus that contains specific hormones which increase the chances of successful fertilization by altering the reproductive physiology of the recipient.

Function

The primary function of the love dart is to increase the reproductive success of the dart shooter. The mucus on the dart contains bioactive compounds that can manipulate the recipient's reproductive system, making it more likely that the sperm from the dart shooter will fertilize the eggs. This process is known as spermatophore receipt and storage.

Species

Not all land snails and slugs use love darts. The use of love darts is found in several families of gastropods, including:

• Helicidae
• Ariantinae
• Bradybaenidae
• Parmacellidae

Mating Behavior

During the mating process, the snails or slugs will engage in a courtship ritual that can last several hours. The exchange of love darts typically occurs before the actual transfer of sperm. The act of shooting the dart is often reciprocal, with both partners attempting to pierce each other.

Evolutionary Significance

The use of love darts is an example of a complex reproductive strategy that has evolved to maximize reproductive success. The exact evolutionary origins and benefits of this behavior are still a subject of scientific research.

Related Pages

• Gastropod
• Snail
• Slug
• Mating
• Reproductive system
• Spermatophore