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Polymita brocheri (Cepolidae) is a hermaphroditic, threatened Cuban endemic tree snail, whose mating behavior has never been studied. Here, we described the mating behaviour and the use of the dart apparatus of P. brocheri, in captivity, and discussed the functional morphology of the dart apparatus and the spermatophore. The study was conducted between 2012 and 2018. Twenty-five adult individuals were collected in Maisí, Guantánamo and other seven individuals were obtained from a captive breeding colony. Individuals were kept isolated in plastic containers between 15 and 30 days before the mating sessions. Mating duration averaged 208 min and consisted of three stages: courtship, copulation and post-copulation. On average, courtship lasted 30 min, and included tactile contacts and semicircular movements. Copulation started simultaneously and lasted on average 105 min. During this stage took place the reciprocal exchange of spermatophores. The spermatophore was formed by three regions: neck, body and tail, with spines of different sizes in the neck and body. We suggested that spines might slow down spermatophore uptake into the bursa copulatrix. Post-copulation average was 76 min; penis withdrawal settled the beginning of this stage. Post-copulatory activity was characterized by semicircular movements. During all mating stages, three uses of the dart apparatus were distinguished: wiping, rubbing and stabbing, all of which were mainly directed toward the anterior region of the partner's body, usually without loss of the dart. The dart apparatus consists of several types of tissues and the accessory mucous glands possess abundant secretory cells. The low frequency of stabbing, as well as the presence of cylindrical epithelium and mucus in the atrial sac, suggest a key role of wiping and rubbing in order to transfer accessory gland products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate is changing quickly and as a consequence knowledge about the daily cycles, and their relationship with climate factors and reproductive biology, is a key step for conservation and management of land snails. However, this topic has not received any attention in the Cuban tree snail Polymita muscarum (Cepolidae). Hence, the aim of the present study is to characterise the daily activity pattern of the tree snail P. muscarum, and its relationship with temperature, relative humidity and mating duration. Furthermore, we evaluated the allocation of time for mating as a function of daily activity of this species. The field work was conducted in September and October- 2012, in an agroecosystem from Yaguajay, Banes municipality, Holguín province, Cuba; the number of physically active adult individuals was recorded during surveys of 30 min each hour during a 24-29 h time period in a fixed plot of 119 m2 each month. A unimodal pattern of the daily activity was detected. In both months, significant multiple regressions were found between log10 (number of physically active adult individuals + 1.5) and the climate variables studied. However, the predictive value of these equations suggests that there were other factors, no quantified in the present study, that probably also influence the number of physically active adult individuals. In the studied agroecosystem, the allocation of time for mating represented a proportion between 29-67 % in relation to the daily mating activity period, which indicates a substantial investment in reproductive effort compared to the daily cycle of P. muscarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hermaphroditic animals display a remarkable range of complex mating behaviours that are frequently related to the transfer of accessory-gland products. Here, we describe the use of the dart, an accessory reproductive device, and the mating behaviour of the hermaphroditic Cuban tree snail Polymita picta. Mating can be divided into three stages: courtship, copulation and post-copulation. Polymita picta has the longest mating duration of all Polymita species investigated so far. During courtship, a partial genital eversion exposes the sensitive zone, genital lobes and dart apparatus. During all mating stages, three uses of the dart apparatus can be distinguished: wiping, rubbing and stabbing, all of which mainly target the anterior region of the body, usually without loss of the dart. Morphological variation in the dart involves the extent of curvature, irregularities along the length and total length. These characteristics possibly provide a larger contact surface and deeper penetration through the body wall, which could result in increased sperm storage and paternity. The spermatophore is equipped with spines and we suggest that these might slow down spermatophore uptake into the bursa copulatrix. Overall, the general mating pattern, the presence of the sensitive zone, repeated use of the dart and its shape diversity support the idea that in more ancestral dart-possessing snails the dart apparatus is used to transfer accessory gland secretions, not only by stabbing but also through wiping and rubbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]