A man is not a mollusk, and many men probably think that’s a good thing. And it’s not just because a mollusk is a squishy invertebrate with a shell. It’s also because for at least one species of mollusk, the males do all the heavy lifting when it comes to childcare.
The species of mollusk we’re talking about is Solenosteira macrospira, a marine snail about 2 inches long. These snails live off the coast of Baja California, and during the mating season, the beach is awash with male and female snails in connubial bliss.
But after the deed is done, something very strange happens. In most snail species, the female deposits the eggs her partner has fertilized in the sand or attaches them to a rock. But when it comes to Solenosteira macrospira, the female deposits the eggs into papery capsules and attaches them to the male’s shell. And it’s the male who has to lug around these developing snails for months.
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