Female, broadcast spawning; several males releasing sperm nearby (separate observation). I am especially curious why some, but not all, of the eggs appear to be stuck together with a halo of tiny spines on them; if you know the answer, please let me know!
This is earlier in the year than expected: "In California, spawning occurs from March to May" (O’Clair and O’Clair 1998, Cowles 2005).
Male, releasing sperm into the current in response to a female spawning nearby.
I am 100% certain of this location, and the identification seems very certain. I think this might be important, as it is a very rare species only found alive a few times in the last 6 years. the shape matches a species found in Australia. If it's that species, how did it get here? If it's the California native species, could this be an extended range? Introduced? New species, even??
Larva
Larva.
With Meredith Swartwout and Chris Boccia. Foothills Master Naturalists outreach event.
Somewhat newly hatched L1 larva, seems to not have eaten much yet.
From an old collection - Monroe, Snohomish Co., Washington. Collected in deciduous forest. W. J. Eyerdam Collection. June 13, 1937.
Leopard slug found unresponsive with a suspected prolapsed pneumostome.
Tagged for the sideband.
Note the smaller snail below.
My young friend Ethan Griffin found this beast in his garden and would love to get any insights on this warped snail. Photos by Ethan.
Looks like a butter clam, with some sort of mutation to the shell. I've only ever seen this once in person, but oddly enough there is another observation of another butter clam shell with the same mutation, found in the same place. Maybe a local environmental factor causing irregular growth patterns?
Interesting lines on this one?