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Post by eric2 on Sept 13, 2005 19:44:47 GMT
Is it true that achatina zebra can give birth to live young and eggs? I am sure i read this somewhere
eric
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2005 19:46:06 GMT
yes they can. i cant remember the scientific name of such an ability though...
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Post by thegreatloofa on Sept 15, 2005 10:43:24 GMT
Ovi something...
Oviporus?
Wait, a quick check of your website Mike, reveals it as: ovoviparous!
Close but no cigar...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2005 16:34:40 GMT
Ovoviparous means when eggs hatch inside the snail.
Achatina zebra is something else...paul might know?
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Post by Paul on Sept 15, 2005 17:09:21 GMT
"It is one of the Achatina species that can either be oviparous, meaning that it lays eggs or ovoviviparous, meaning that the young develop in their eggs inside the mother’s egg ducts where they hatch to be born live.
The land snail expert Dr Dick Kilburn says there is no definite explanation for why the snail will have two options of reproduction. Perhaps the eggs are retained for development when conditions are adverse such as in times of drought. This species is also known to be ovoviviparous when kept in captivity.
But there’s another oddity. Usually eggs are laid in an underground nest within days after mating. Or the eggs can be retained for several days or weeks while the embrios develop, before they are laid. This is called delayed ovipary."
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