Quest-ce que c'est?

[leah]

There was an old tank in the backyard with some cracks that's been sitting there for who knows how long- it's become part of the scenery now, looking a bit like an old shipwreck all overgrown with native vegetation (if that can be compared to a shipwreck!) It's also about half filled with soft black dirt, probably leftover from whatever used to occupy the tank. I started digging all the dirt out to have a better look at the tank, hoping it was salvageable (it isn't) and came across what appears to be a clutch of 30-40 eggs, about an inch under the soil. I'm hoping they aren't, because I definitely disturbed them! I got most of them in one scoop of the trowel, but I'm sure I squished a bunch. Here's a pic of a few that were untouched. They're squishy and sort of sticky- I picked a wrinkled/shriveled one up for closer inspection. The "eggs" are about 2-3mm in size- Any ideas what they could be?

 

[kamil]

As in Australia are no native Salamanders i suppose that this are Snail-Eggs

 

[leah]

Let's hope! The only other eggs I could think they might be are some kind of small lizard. Anyone else think snail eggs? I need to go look up some pictures!

 

[leah]

Thank you Kamil, I think we have a winner!
http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Helix_aspersa/

I'd never seen garden snail eggs before, only aquatic ones. I'm so glad to know I didn't squish any little lizard eggs!

(Message edited by trip on February 16, 2005)

 

[kamil]

Lizard-Eggs are rather hard and dry than soft and slimy

Perhaps you could try raise the little Slimers

 

[edward]

snail eggs.

Ed