Astraea Snail Releasing Sperm- Astraea sp.
Picture taken June 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Class: Gastropoda.

Subclass: Orthogastropoda.

Superorder: Vetigastropoda.

Superfamily: Trochoidea.

Family: Turbinidae .

"Astraea" means star. When viewed from above the shell has a star shape to it.

Astraea Snail Releasing Sperm - Astraea sp.
Picture taken June 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

This snail decided to spawn late in the evening. Unlike other snails I have seen spawning, this one did not attempt to reach the water surface.

No other snails joined in the spawning event.

Astraea Snail Releasing Sperm - Astraea sp.
Picture taken June 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

I was surprised by the volume of sperm released and the duration of the event. This snail released a near steady stream of sperm for nearly 4 hours that I knew about. It would sometimes take short breaks of about 30 seconds before starting again.