Snail Sex Tape
3/6/202630 min
In this episode, we consider a creature we often don’t think much about—the snail. And not just snails, but their sex lives. Which, as it turns out, is epic. There is persuasion and subterfuge, spaghetti penises and co-copulation. And this very surprising habit—erm kink—of making tiny arrows (actually!) and stabbing each other with them. Known as a “love dart,” these limestone daggers aren’t just a strange trick of nature—they have a deep evolutionary purpose.
Special thanks to Menno Schilthuizen and Aaron Chase.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Hosted by - Molly Webster
Reported by - Molly Webster
Produced by - Mona Madgavkar, Annie McEwen, Molly Webster
Sound design contributed by - Mona Madgavkar, Annie McEwen
Fact-checking by - Diane A. Kelly
and Edited by - Alex Neason
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Videos -
A love dart being DARTED! (https://zpr.io/rYhLwXhaxQQP) – Molly has watched this video so many times
Articles -
- Changes in the reproductive system of the snail Helix aspersa caused by mucus from the love dart. (https://zpr.io/xxjuCcTyiVJV) by Koene JM, Chase R. J Exp Biol.
- The snail's love-dart delivers mucus to increase paternity. By Chase R, Blanchard KC. Proc Biol Sci.
- A love-dart at the heart of sexual conflict in snails (https://zpr.io/X2ANHPaEg5sr) by Foote C
** This article has an image of eight different love darts, and it’s what Molly shows to Soren in the episode (this image is one of her favorite research finds!)
Books -
“Nature’s Nether Regions: What the Sex Lives of Bugs, Birds, and Beasts Tell Us About Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ourselves” (https://zpr.io/ktMvJbZciCdD) by evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSoren Wheeler· Host0:02
Oh, wait, you're listening [laughs].
Molly Webster· Host0:03
Okay.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:04
All right.
Molly Webster· Host0:05
Okay.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:06
All right.
Molly Webster· Host0:07
[clears throat] You're listening- You're listening- To Radiolab.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:11
Radiolab.
Molly Webster· Host0:11
From- WNYC. C.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:15
Yeah.
Molly Webster· Host0:16
[laughs] Am I recording? I'm recording.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:22
Do you, does your mic have fancy green lights on it?
Molly Webster· Host0:24
Does yours not?
Soren Wheeler· Host0:25
No.
Molly Webster· Host0:26
It, like, tells me how loud it is. And it also... I can also mute it dir- can you hear me? You can't hear me anymore.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:31
No, I can still.
Molly Webster· Host0:32
Oh, you can?
Soren Wheeler· Host0:33
Yeah.
Molly Webster· Host0:34
Wait, what does that button mean then? Hmm.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:36
Button, button.
Molly Webster· Host0:37
[laughs] I'm Molly Webster. This is Radiolab.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:40
Button, button.
Molly Webster· Host0:41
Um, okay. Well- And today I am joined by our executive editor- Button ... Soren Wheeler.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:46
What are we doing?
Molly Webster· Host0:47
Why are you here?
Soren Wheeler· Host0:48
Yeah.
Molly Webster· Host0:48
Well, you're here because I'm gonna take you on a walk.
Soren Wheeler· Host0:50
Oh, uh, you're gonna take me on a walk? Where?
Menno Schilthuizen· Guest0:53
In a lowland area along the Kinabatangan River.
Molly Webster· Host0:56
We're gonna follow this guy, Menno.
Menno Schilthuizen· Guest0:57
Menno Schilthuizen.
Molly Webster· Host0:58
He's an evolutionary biologist.
Soren Wheeler· Host1:00
Seems like a nice guy to go on a walk with.
Molly Webster· Host1:02
[laughs] Menno's going to take us deep into Borneo.
Menno Schilthuizen· Guest1:05
It's tropical humid limestone forest, so it's, it's really wet.
Molly Webster· Host1:09
There's lichens, there's ferns.
Menno Schilthuizen· Guest1:12
Orchids and vines and climbers.
Molly Webster· Host1:14
And he is looking for something.
Soren Wheeler· Host1:17
Okay.
Molly Webster· Host1:18
And actually, ba, ba, ba, ba, I also went on a walk to look for the something. Hoo. My walk was not in Borneo, it was in Brooklyn [sneezes] in February, so less orchid- Dog poop ... more-