Sequential pathways in the mating behavior of the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae)

BURELA S. & P. R. MARTÍN

MALACOLOGIA

Año: 2009 vol. 51 p. 203 - 210

0076-2997

Knowledge on mating behavior of Pomacea canaliculata comes mostly from non-systematic observations: matings are long lasting (up to 20 h), occur under water at any time of the day or night, and the females feed on a secretion from the penis sheath gland of the males. Both males and females show a multiple mating behavior. Our aim was to describe the sequence of actions or states in the mating behavior of this snail and to quantify the frequency of the alternative pathways through the observation of isolated couples in laboratory trials.The precourtship phase includes probing contacts with tentacles, palps, feet or snouts, and shows a very variable duration. The males are the ones that usually approach females. During the courtship phase the males frequently perform a circling behavior on the female shell; when the male reach the copula position the female frequently rejects it, swinging its shell strongly. The intromission of the penis sheath at the beginning of the copula phase frequently elicited swinging and withdrawal-wrestling behaviors in the females, interrupting the copula in most cases. A postcopula phase, during which males remained mounted on the females’ shells with their sheath folded, was observed only in a few cases. The mate rejection behaviors displayed by females are an evidence that females are able to perceive the males’ intention to mate. Knowledge on these behaviors will allow the study of sexual preferences, a necessary step to understand mate choice patterns in this snail. Key words: Pomacea, precourtship, courtship, copula, poscopula, mate rejection.Running title: Mating Behavior in Pomacea canaliculata