Some aspects of the breeding biology of the equatorial land snail Limicolaria martensiana (Achatinidae: Pulmonata)

A study of the breeding season of the polymorphic equatorial land snailLimicolaria martensianaSmith (Achatinidae: Pulmonata) lasting six years and six months in populations in the Kampala District (lat. 0 20′) and the Equator line shows that the snail breeds continuously throughout the year but has bimodal peaks in its breeding which occurs during the dry seasons, while during the rainy seasons breeding is low. It is the decrease in the amount of rainfall which induces peak breeding and as a result there is an inverse relationship between the amount of rainfall and the breeding intensity. The evolution of ovoviviparity with the ability to retain eggs and/or youngin uteroduring aestivation is the phenomenon that enablesL. martensianato have peak breeding during the dry seasons. Moisture which enables young to feed and thus grow is an ultimate factor in determining breeding inL. martensiana. The gestation period is 10 to 14 days during the rainy seasons but the snail retains its eggs and/or youngin uteroduring the dry seasons and only deposits them when rain returns. The eggs take 18.6±5.43 days (N=130) to hatch after they are laid. Hatchingin uteroand outside occurs by the young eating the egg shells. Oogenesis in the snails occurs at all times.L. martensianastores viable allosperms which it can use for further reproduction.