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J. Moll. Stud. (1989), 55, 383-387
© The Malacological Society of London 1989

research-article

GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF THE MINUTE LAND SNAIL PUNCTUM PYGMAEUM (DRAPARNAUD)

BRUNO BAUR*

Department of Zoology, Uppsala University Box 561, S-751 22 Uppsala, Sweden

Reproductive characters and growth of Punctum pygmaeum were investigated under laboratory conditions. Eggs were laid singly at intervals of 2–8 days. Egg size averaged 0.41 by 0.50 mm. Due to a variable period of egg retention, newly deposited eggs contained differently developed embryos resulting in an incubation period varying from 1 to 34 days. Each snail on average laid 6.0 eggs (range 1–16 eggs) during its life. Egg production rate and hatching success in individuals kept in isolation were the same as in individuals kept in pairs. Hatchlings measured 0.49 mm in shell breadth. Snails grew throughout their life, but the growth rate declined significantly at a shell breadth of 1.3–1.4 mm, the point at which the onset of sexual maturity occurred. Comparison of reproductive characters of snails living in leaf litter revealed that very small-sized species produce few, but in relation to their shell size large eggs, which they oviposit singly.

*Present address: Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Rhein-sprung 9. CH-4051 Basel, Switzertand

(Received 23 May 1988; accepted 11 July 1988)


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