Egg Clutch With Hatching In Progress

     This Pomacea canaliculata egg clutch was photographed along the lake shoreline on 7/27/2005. It wasn't until later when the digital image was processed that it was discovered that it depicted several of the egg capsules in the process of hatching - with the emerging hatchlings measuring approximately 1.5 mm. The egg clutch had been deposited on a small tree branch during a wetter period when the lake level was much higher than when photographed. Because of this, it was about five linear feet from the water's edge and therefore it seems unlikely that any of the emerging juveniles would be able to make a journey of this length in the prevailing 95-degree heat and ultimately survive.